What Candidates in Tight House Races Are Saying About Abortion

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What Candidates in Tight House Races Are Saying About *********

22 Democrats say

restore Roe v. Wade.

4 Democrats say

it’s no place for government.

9 Democrats say

it’s between a woman and her doctor.

21 Republicans say

no federal ban.

10 Republicans say

it’s best left up to the states.

5 Republicans say

they’re pro-life.

Josh Riley, the Democratic challenger running for Congress in New York’s 19th District, has a clear message on *********: “I believe that women’s health care decisions are women’s health care decisions and that politicians should stay the ***** out of it.”

And his *********** opponent, the incumbent Representative Marc Molinaro, is saying nearly the same thing: “I believe health care decisions should be between a woman and her doctor, not Washington.”

Across the country’s most competitive House races, Republicans have spent months trying to redefine themselves on *********, going so far as to borrow language that would not feel out of place at a rally of Vice President Kamala Harris. Many Republicans who until recently backed federal ********* restrictions are now saying the issue should be left to the states.

At least a half-dozen *********** candidates have put out direct-to-camera ads declaring their opposition to a federal ********* ban. Instead, they say, they support exceptions to existing state laws and back protections for reproductive health care, such as I.V.F.

*********** candidates address ********* head-on in campaign videos

Click on any video in the grid to play it.

Anthony D’Esposito

***********, N.Y. 4

Mike Lawler

***********, N.Y. 17

Marc Molinaro

***********, N.Y. 19

Joe Kent

***********, Wash. 3

Michelle Steel

***********, C.A. 45

Juan Ciscomani

***********, Ariz. 6

Democrats have raised the possibility of a nationwide ********* ban should Republicans win in November, and they are framing the campaign as another referendum on the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. They are hoping to continue their run of electoral successes since the 2022 decision to win back control of the House.

Any new federal legislation on ********* would have to pass both the House and the Senate and be signed by the president to become law. But whichever party emerges with a majority in the House will have the ability to dictate the legislative agenda, including whether measures to restrict or expand ********* access have the chance to pass.

Republicans in California and New York in particular, who are running in swing districts in blue states that favor ********* rights, have felt the most pressure to address the issue directly. “If we don’t talk about the issue, we become whatever the Democrats say we are,” said Will Reinert, the press secretary for the National *********** Congressional Committee.

To better understand how ********* is playing a role in these campaigns, The New York Times surveyed candidates from both parties in the most competitive House races about their support for federal limits on *********. The Times also looked at voting records, issues listed on campaign websites, debate and media coverage, and endorsements from major ********* rights and anti-********* groups.

The Times survey showed that while Republicans are notably focused on what they will not do on ********* at the federal level, their Democratic opponents are talking about what they will do to protect ********* rights. Nearly all the Democratic candidates said they supported restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade, which would allow access to ********* until fetal viability, or around 24 weeks, in every state.

In ******* ads, Democrats are pointing to their opponents’ voting records or past statements as evidence of extremism — despite what they may be saying now.

Democratic candidates highlight Republicans’ records on ********* in campaign videos

Click on any video in the grid to play it.

Josh Riley campaign

Democrat, N.Y. 19

Will Rollins campaign

Democrat, Calif. 41

More broadly, ********* rights groups said Republicans are misleading voters by claiming they do not support an outright ********* “ban,” when they might support a federal “limit” or “standard,” such as the 15-week proposal put forward by Senator Lindsey Graham in 2022.

“They are playing around with the semantics; they are clearly testing out different framing and messaging in an attempt to try and deceive voters because they realize how politically unpopular their policy stances are,” said Jessica Arons, a director of policy and government affairs at the ********* Civil Liberties Union.

Republicans in the Times survey almost universally declined to answer questions about gestational limits. Only one, Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, said he supported a specific federal limit, in the third trimester.

What *********** candidates are saying about *********

“I do not support a federal ********* ban. The Dobbs decision decided this was an issue left to the states and that’s where I believe policy on the issue should be decided.”

David Valadao ***********, Calif. 22

“At the federal level, I would only support legislation to outlaw late-term *********, with protections for the three exceptions. Otherwise, states must vote on this issue.”

Don Bacon ***********, Neb. 2

“I am pro-life, believe ********* stops a beating heart, and oppose taxpayer funded *********. Since the U.S. Supreme Court has returned this issue to the states, I will not vote for a national ********* ban.”

Gabe Evans ***********, Colo. 8

The *********** shift away from publicly supporting a federal ban follows the lead of former President Donald J. Trump, who has changed his own language on the issue after seeing the electoral backlash to the Dobbs decision.

As recently as 2021, a majority of House Republicans — including seven incumbents in this year’s tossup races — co-sponsored the

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, a bill that would have amounted to a nationwide ********* ban. This year, Representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania’s 10th District was the only incumbent in a competitive race to

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.

Two *********** incumbents who now say they oppose a national ban — Representatives Ken Calvert and David Valadao in California — voted in favor of a

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ban that passed the House in 2017. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, an Iowa ***********, co-sponsored a

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in 2022. She did not respond to questions about whether she still supports it.

Other Republicans described themselves as personally “pro-life” but said they accepted the ********* laws in place in their states. Rob Bresnahan Jr., a challenger in Pennsylvania’s 8th District, said he supported the state’s current law, which allows ********* until 24 weeks.

Democrats, when they were not attacking Republicans, leaned into language about personal freedom, with many in the survey saying the government should not be involved in medical decisions.

Another common refrain was that the decision to have an ********* should be “between a woman and her doctor.” Two Democrats used similar language rather than explicitly calling for federal ********* protections.

What Democratic candidates are saying about *********

“********* is health care. This is not a place for government interference. I trust every person I know and love, and any New ******** to make that decision for themselves.”

Gabe Vasquez Democrat, N.M. 2

“I have always believed that this decision should be left between a woman, her doctor and within her own ******.”

Rudy Salas Democrat, Calif. 22

“I believe the decisions a woman makes for her body and her family are deeply personal and politicians have no place telling her what she can and cannot do.”

Tony Vargas Democrat, Neb. 2

By appearing to moderate their stance on *********, candidates have risked losing the backing of prominent advocacy groups. Only three Republicans in the tossup races received an endorsement from

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, and seven received one from

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.

Two major ********* rights groups, by contrast, endorsed nearly all the Democratic candidates. Planned Parenthood — whose political action fund is

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into the campaign —

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all but six candidates, while Reproductive Freedom for All

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all but four.

Endorsements from major anti-********* groups

Candidate	District	Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America	National Right to Life
Anderson Va. 7	Va. 7
Bacon* Neb. 2	Neb. 2
Buckhout N.C. 1	N.C. 1
Begich Alaska At-Large	Alaska At-Large
Ciscomani* Ariz. 6	Ariz. 6
Miller-Meeks* Iowa 1	Iowa 1
Nunn* Iowa 3	Iowa 3
Perry* Pa. 10	Pa. 10
Schweikert* Ariz. 1	Ariz. 1
Barrett Mich. 7	Mich. 7
Bresnahan Jr. Pa. 8	Pa. 8
Calvert* Calif. 41	Calif. 41
Chavez-DeRemer* Ore. 5	Ore. 5
Coughlin Ohio 13	Ohio 13
D’Esposito* N.Y. 4	N.Y. 4
Duarte* Calif. 13	Calif. 13
Evans Colo. 8	Colo. 8
Garcia* Calif. 27	Calif. 27
Herrell N.M. 2	N.M. 2
Junge Mich. 8	Mich. 8
Kean Jr.* N.J. 7	N.J. 7
Kent Wash. 3	Wash. 3
Lawler* N.Y. 17	N.Y. 17
Mackenzie Pa. 7	Pa. 7
Molinaro* N.Y. 19	N.Y. 19
Steel* Calif. 45	Calif. 45
Theriault Maine 2	Maine 2
Valadao* Calif. 22	Calif. 22

+ SHOW MORE

Endorsements from major ********* rights groups

Candidate	District	Planned Parenthood	Repro. Freedom for All
Altman N.J. 7	N.J. 7
Baccam Iowa 3	Iowa 3
Bohannan Iowa 1	Iowa 1
Bynum Ore. 5	Ore. 5
Caraveo* Colo. 8	Colo. 8
Cartwright* Pa. 8	Pa. 8
Davis* N.C. 1	N.C. 1
Engel Ariz. 6	Ariz. 6
Gillen N.Y. 4	N.Y. 4
Gluesenkamp Perez* Wash. 3	Wash. 3
Golden* Maine 2	Maine 2
Gray Calif. 13	Calif. 13
Hertel Mich. 7	Mich. 7
Jones N.Y. 17	N.Y. 17
McDonald Rivet Mich. 8	Mich. 8
Peltola* Alaska At-Large	Alaska At-Large
Riley N.Y. 19	N.Y. 19
Rollins Calif. 41	Calif. 41
Salas Calif. 22	Calif. 22
Shah Ariz. 1	Ariz. 1
Stelson Pa. 10	Pa. 10
Sykes* Ohio 13	Ohio 13
Tran Calif. 45	Calif. 45
Vargas Neb. 2	Neb. 2
Vasquez* N.M. 2	N.M. 2
Vindman Va. 7	Va. 7
Whitesides Calif. 27	Calif. 27
Wild* Pa. 7	Pa. 7

+ SHOW MORE

Representative Jared Golden, the Democratic incumbent in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District — an area Mr. Trump

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in 2020 — did not get Planned Parenthood’s endorsement this year. He said the reason was his vote for the 2024 defense policy bill, which included an amendment blocking reimbursement for ********* travel costs for service members.

Mr. Golden said he was not concerned about the lack of support from the group, pointing instead to his co-sponsorship of the Women’s Health Protection Act, a bill to restore the protections of Roe.

“I’m quite confident that voters in Maine know where I stand,” he said.

Compare statements from House candidates on ********* policy

The New York Times asked candidates and their campaigns about support for a federal minimum standard on *********. Statements have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

District	Dem. position	Rep. position
Alaska At‑Large
Alaska At‑Large	Mary Peltola* No response to survey. “Roe v. Wade set a precedent that was the law of the land for 50 years. She believes that standard was the right one — furthermore we know the importance of having strong exceptions for *****, *******, life of mother and health of mother throughout.”	Nick Begich No response to survey. “While I strongly support efforts that defend the rights of those not yet born, the courts have made it clear, ********* is a state issue and not an issue for the federal government to decide.”
Ariz. 1
Ariz. 1	Amish Shah No response to survey. “As a doctor, I understand that these personal decisions should be made by women and their physicians. That’s why we need to codify Roe v. Wade and give women across the country the right to control their own bodies and health care.”	David Schweikert* No response to survey. “It’s pretty clear that it belongs to the states,” via This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up .
Ariz. 6
Ariz. 6	Kirsten Engel No response to survey. “Protecting women’s reproductive freedoms at the federal level will be one of my top priorities when elected to Congress. Women had those protections for over 50 years when Roe v. Wade was the law of the land, and that is what I will advocate for us to return to.”	Juan Ciscomani* No response to survey. “I’m pro-life, I ******* the extremes, and I trust women. I’m against a federal ban on *********. I’m for timetables and exceptions, including for *****, ******* and the life of the mother,” via This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up .
Calif. 13
Calif. 13	Adam Gray No response to survey. “What I support and will vote for is restoring Roe v. Wade into federal law so that women regain the federal rights they had for generations.”	John Duarte* No response to survey. “Congressman Duarte opposes federal ********* restrictions.”
Calif. 22
Calif. 22	Rudy Salas No response to survey. “I have always believed that this decision should be left between a woman, her doctor and within her own ******. Women should have the freedom to choose what happens with their own bodies and to determine their own health care.”	David Valadao* No response to survey. “I do not support a federal ********* ban. The Dobbs decision decided this was an issue left to the states and that’s where I believe policy on the issue should be decided.”
Calif. 27
Calif. 27	George Whitesides No response to survey. “I strongly support a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions, and if elected to Congress, I will vote to codify Roe v. Wade to ensure reproductive freedom for all Americans.”	Mike Garcia* No response to survey. “I oppose a national ********* ban — California’s law on ********* stays the law — and I support exceptions for *****, ******* and life of the mother.”
Calif. 41
Calif. 41	Will Rollins No response to survey. “I support a federal minimum standard for *********. In Congress, I will advocate for legislation that restores Roe v. Wade, which prohibits states from banning abortions before fetal viability. It’s critical that we protect a woman’s right to choose nationwide.”	Ken Calvert* No response to survey. “Congressman Calvert does not support a federal ********* ban and supports the right of Californians to determine this for themselves.”
Calif. 45
Calif. 45	Derek Tran No response to survey. “Derek Tran supports enshrining reproductive rights into law as California voters did through Proposition 1 in 2022.”	Michelle Steel* No response to survey. “Michelle’s position has always been, and ********, that this issue is best left up to the states, and she does not support a national ban on *********.”
Colo. 8
Colo. 8	Yadira Caraveo* No response to survey. “Rep. Caraveo believes we need to codify Roe v. Wade. This was the law of the land for decades, and since the Dobbs decision, the lives of far too many women have been at risk.”	Gabe Evans No response to survey. “I am pro-life, believe ********* stops a beating heart, and oppose taxpayer-funded *********. Since the U.S. Supreme Court has returned this issue to the states, I will not vote for a national ********* ban.”
Iowa 1
Iowa 1	Christina Bohannan No response to survey. “On Day 1 in Congress, I will work to codify Roe v. Wade and ensure women in Iowa and across the country once again have the freedom to make their own health care decisions.”	Mariannette Miller-Meeks* No response to survey. “The congresswoman has been clear that she is pro-life with the exceptions of *****, *******, and life of the mother.”
Iowa 3
Iowa 3	Lanon Baccam No response to survey. “It’s more important than ever to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade, and that’s why I’ll support the Women’s Health Protection Act in Congress. I believe women’s health care decisions should be between her and her doctor — not politicians.”	Zach Nunn* No response to survey. “He is pro-life, but has voted for exceptions. He opposes a national ********* ban.”
Maine 2
Maine 2	Jared Golden* No response to survey. “I’m a cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, to restore Roe, and I would vote for it if it came to the floor again.”	Austin Theriault No response to survey. “Austin opposes and will vote against a national ********* ban.”
Mich. 7
Mich. 7	Curtis Hertel No response to survey. “When Roe was overturned and ********* rights came under ******* in our state, I worked across the aisle to get rid of the 1931 ********* ban and fought to enshrine ********* rights in Michigan’s constitution. I’m running to make Roe the law of the land and protect reproductive freedom.”	Tom Barrett No response to survey. “Tom does not support a federal ban. He has consistently argued this is a decision for the states and while he disagrees with Prop. 3, Michigan voters have made that decision.”
Mich. 8
Mich. 8	Kristen McDonald Rivet No response to survey. “After Roe was overturned, I protected ********* rights in Michigan by helping to repeal our state’s 1931 ban without exceptions for ***** or *******. In Congress, I’ll ****** for a federal law restoring the Roe standard across America.”	Paul Junge No response to survey. “I would never and have never supported a national ********* ban.”
Neb. 2
Neb. 2	Tony Vargas No response to survey. “I believe the decisions a woman makes for her body, and her family, are deeply personal and politicians have no place telling her what she can and cannot do. In Congress, I’ll vote to codify the protections earned from the Roe v. Wade decision into federal law.”	Don Bacon* No response to survey. “I support the Nebraska law that puts a reasonable three-month restriction on abortions with exceptions for *****, ******* and the health of the mother. At the federal level, I would only support legislation to outlaw late-term *********, with protections for the three exceptions. Otherwise, states must vote on this issue.”
N.M. 2
N.M. 2	Gabe Vasquez* No response to survey. “********* is health care. This is not a place for government interference. I trust every person I know and love, and any New ********, to make that decision for themselves.”	Yvette Herrell No response to survey. “Yvette has been clear that since the Dobbs decision returned ********* policy to the states, she does not support a federal ban.”
N.J. 7
N.J. 7	Sue Altman No response to survey. “Sue will work to protect access to contraception, reproductive choice, and women’s health,” via This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up .	Thomas Kean Jr.* No response to survey. “Tom is opposed to a national ********* ban. He has voted to protect access to mifepristone and believes any legislation should be left to the voters of each state to advocate for their positions to their legislatures.”
N.Y. 17
N.Y. 17	Mondaire Jones No response to survey. “We must enshrine protections for ********* into federal law.”	Mike Lawler* No response to survey. “He does not and never will support a national ********* ban.”
N.Y. 19
N.Y. 19	Josh Riley No response to survey. “I believe that women’s health care decisions are women’s health care decisions and that politicians should stay the ***** out of it. In Congress, I will codify the right to ********* as it existed under Roe v. Wade into law.”	Marc Molinaro* No response to survey. “I believe health care decisions should be between a woman and her doctor, not Washington. I kept my promise to ******* a national ********* ban — keeping New York’s laws in place.”
N.Y. 4
N.Y. 4	Laura Gillen No response to survey. “The standard should be the same as it was the day before the disastrous Dobbs decision. It worked for a half a century, and we should return to it.”	Anthony D’Esposito* No response to survey. “Congressman D’Esposito does not support a nationwide ********* ban and believes legislating on ********* should fall under the purview of state governments.”
N.C. 1
N.C. 1	Don Davis* No response to survey. “Congress must take action and codify Roe v. Wade. He firmly believes that a woman’s health decisions should remain private between her and her doctor,” via This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up .	Laurie Buckhout No response to survey. “As the only candidate to be endorsed by the pro-life SBA (Susan B. Anthony) List, I believe every life is precious and would vote to preserve life, including the mother’s,” via This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up .
Ohio 13
Ohio 13	Emilia Sykes* No response to survey. “Congresswoman Sykes has a strong record of supporting the protections provided under Roe that give women across the country the right to make decisions about what is best for their bodies.”	Kevin Coughlin No response to survey. “Issues related to ********* are best left to the states, and there should be no federal ban.”
Ore. 5
Ore. 5	Janelle Bynum No response to survey. “Rep. Bynum supports codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law so that women across the country can have those rights back. This is a decision that should be kept between a woman and her doctors.”	Lori Chavez-DeRemer* No response to survey. “The congresswoman doesn’t support any federal standard limiting Oregonians’ access to *********.”
Pa. 7
Pa. 7	Susan Wild* No response to survey. “I have always believed that private medical decisions, including whether or not to receive ********* care, should be made by a woman, her doctor, her partner and her ****** if she so chooses.”	Ryan Mackenzie No response to survey. “He’s opposed to a national ********* ban; he supports exceptions for *****, *******, and life of the mother.”
Pa. 8
Pa. 8	Matt Cartwright* No response to survey. “I strongly support the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would restore Roe’s protections into federal law. We should trust women with their health care decisions, not politicians.”	Rob Bresnahan Jr. No response to survey. “Rob Bresnahan does not support a national ********* ban and does support the current Pennsylvania protections of 24 weeks and exceptions for *****, *******, and the life of the mother. ”
Pa. 10
Pa. 10	Janelle Stelson No response to survey. “I think these most intimate health care decisions should be made by women and their doctors … If elected, I will put those decisions back in the hands of women, where they belong.”	Scott Perry* No response to survey. “Scott Perry believes firmly in the sanctity of Life — *******. He makes exceptions for circumstances that involve *****, ******* and danger to the life of the mother,” via This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up .
Va. 7
Va. 7	Eugene Vindman No response to survey. “In Congress, I will ****** to make sure that the rights of women and ****** in Virginia are never dependent on politicians in Richmond or Washington by voting to restore the protections of Roe nationwide.”	Derrick Anderson No response to survey. “Derrick opposes and would vote against a national ********* ban.”
Wash. 3
Wash. 3	Marie Gluesenkamp Perez* No response to survey. “Marie is an original co-sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act and supports codifying the ********* protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law, as well as ensuring women have continued access to contraception and I.V.F.”	Joe Kent No response to survey. “Following the Supreme Court decision that made ********* a state issue, Joe Kent opposes any new federal legislation on the issue.”

Methodology

The New York Times survey asked candidates or their campaigns two questions: 1) Do you support any federal minimum standard on *********? 2) If so, until how many weeks in pregnancy (i.e. 6 weeks, 15 weeks, viability, etc.)?

Those surveyed were major-party candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives whose races were rated “tossups” by the

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at any point in October 2024. Alaska’s

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includes four candidates and will be decided by ranked-choice voting; the two candidates who received the most votes in the primary were included in the survey. All but six candidates responded to emailed requests for comment. In these cases, position summaries were taken from campaign websites or from other public statements.

Note: Counts of candidate statements in the top graphic were taken from survey responses only.

Additional work by June Kim.

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#Candidates #Tight #House #Races #*********

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