Sen. Lindsey Graham Will Push For Nationwide Abortion Restrictions In New Bill—Here’s What To Know

Topline

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is set to unveil a new bill Tuesday that aims to restrict abortion access nationwide, a politically risky move that comes as the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade and a spate of near-total abortion bans in several Republican-controlled states appear to have galvanized Democratic voters ahead of the November midterms.

Key Facts

In an email sent out to reporters, Graham’s office said he will hold a press conference at the U.S. Capitol with anti-abortion leaders to announce the “Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act.”

According to the Washington Post, the bill is expected to propose a 15-week nationwide abortion ban, but its unclear if there will be any exceptions for victims of rape or incest or to save the mother’s life.

Graham’s earlier proposals included those exceptions and had a longer 20-week window.

The bill is unlikely to succeed in the Senate regardless of which party controls the house following the midterms as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has signaled he will not scrap the filibuster to pass the anti-abortion measures.

Key Background

Graham’s decision to outline nationwide abortion restriction legislation less than two months before the midterm elections is fraught with risks for the Republicans, who are looking to take back control of both the House and the Senate. Several Republican-controlled states moved swiftly to enact laws restricting access to abortions, including at least nine states that have completely banned the procedure. These bans have triggered a backlash from voters even in solidly red states like Kansas where a ballot measure pushing more abortion restrictions was defeated by a wide margin.

Big Number

61%. That is the percentage of Americans who want states to guarantee access to abortion, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll last month. The poll also notes that 65% of Americans disapprove of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.

What To Watch For

Ahead of the midterms several Republican candidates in competitive races have tried to backtrack or play down their earlier statements supporting restrictive anti-abortion measures. This effort comes amid concerns that moderate voters in key swing states might find extreme anti-abortion stances unpalatable. The issue of abortion access also appears to have energized Democratic’ voters, especially women, prompting Democratic candidates to highlight their rivals past comments and stance on the issue.

Further Reading

Vast Majority Of Americans Don’t Want Abortion Bans, Poll Finds—Even In States Where It’s Already Outlawed (Forbes)

Abortion Watch: More Bans Take Effect—And Biden Administration Has Mixed Results In Court Challenging Them (Forbes)

Republicans are learning their political limits on antiabortion measures (Washington Post)