“I think the Democrats made a huge mistake by introducing legislation in Washington that would basically allow abortion up until the moment of birth,” Graham told CNN. “Now we have an alternative to that.” The court’s ruling in June sparked a nationwide fight to define legal rights to an abortion, after finding nearly 50 years ago a constitutional right to one. In May, the Senate failed to advance a Democratic bill establishing a federal right to terminate a pregnancy until the fetus is viable or later if there is a “risk to the life or health of the pregnant patient.” (Fetal viability occurs around 22 to 24 weeks into a pregnancy.) Graham’s bill, which has no chance of passing in a Democratic-controlled Senate, provides exemptions for life-saving abortions mother and if the woman becomes pregnant rape or incest. Senate Republicans were slow on Tuesday to embrace Graham’s plan. “I’ll look into it,” said Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who chairs the Senate GOP campaign committee. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, who is in a tough re-election race, wouldn’t answer directly when asked if he supports Graham’s bill. Johnson said abortion laws should be decided by “we the people” in the 50 states. The Supreme Court decision reinstated Wisconsin’s abortion ban, which was passed in 1849. South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the GOP Whip, defended the new legislation, saying it would give GOP candidates a “landing ground” as they get hammered by Democrats on the issue. He said most Republicans favor abortion restrictions, not a complete ban. Thune told CNN he supported the 15-week ban. “I would expect that there would be very good support for this among, you know, pro-life Republicans and maybe some pro-life Democrats,” Thune said. “I also think it’s because Democrats have tried to turn it into a one-sided argument that represents their only view of the world, which is that all Republicans are in favor of total prohibition,” Thune added. “I think this changes that narrative and gives the candidates a place to be in something that reflects their views and doesn’t fit the Democratic narrative.” But Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the GOP leadership, had a different take on Graham’s bill. “I think there will be some differences of opinion,” Cornyn said. “I prefer that each state handle these issues.” Asked why he thought Graham proposed the legislation, Cornyn replied, “Ask Senator Graham.” North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis said he wanted to “focus” on inflation — the Consumer Price Index jumped 8.3% from August 2021 through last month, even as gas prices fell — and a possible strike by railway workers. “That’s what we have to focus on,” Tillis added. And Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, a third member of the GOP leadership, said he supported Graham’s previous anti-abortion proposals but would not directly answer when asked whether it was politically beneficial for the GOP to introduce such a bill before the midterms. elections. The division at the Senate Republican conference in Washington extended into the election season. Herschel Walker, a GOP candidate for the Georgia Senate, said he supports a 15-week abortion ban, writing in a statement, “the issue will have to be decided at the state level, but I WOULD support this policy.” When asked to clarify whether Walker would vote for a federal bill like Graham’s, even though he said the issue should be decided by the states, a spokesman for Walker said: “It seems clear to me, that’s why it says ‘support.’ But Colorado Republican Senate candidate Joe O’Dea said he opposed the legislation, calling on Congress to “pass a bill that protects a woman’s right to choose early in pregnancy” while providing “reasonable limits to non-medically necessary, late-term abortion’. Democratic Senate candidates immediately seized on Graham’s bill. Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who is running with Republican Senate candidate Mehmet Oz, asked his opponent if he would support the legislation. He and other candidates, including Rep. Val Demings in Florida and New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan quickly protested their own pro-abortion rights stance. “The Republican national abortion ban will be on the ballot in every Senate race,” said Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “The GOP has shown, once again, the threat they pose to a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions — and voters will make their voices heard by standing with their Dems Senate in November”. It’s unclear whether Republicans would put Graham’s bill through the Senate if they win back the chamber this fall. “I don’t know the answer to that,” Thune told CNN. “My expectation, as I said before, is that anything we put on the floor will have 60 votes, and there aren’t 60 votes, probably on anything right now on either side.” House Republicans also plan to introduce a bill to ban 15-week abortions. House Republican leaders have not committed to putting the measure on the floor if they regain a majority, but House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has previously told CNN that he supports banning abortions at 15 weeks. McCarthy’s “Pledge to America” – a policy and messaging document to be officially released next week — makes only a passing reference to abortion, according to a source familiar with the document. The document says Republicans will “protect the lives of unborn children and mothers,” the source said. This story has been updated with additional developments. CNN’s Ali Zaslav, Melanie Zanona and Michael Warren contributed to this report.
