Here's where the Louisiana candidates for governor stand on state's strict abortion ban
Only one of Louisiana's seven major candidates for governor would support legalizing abortion, though two believe exceptions should be added to the state's strict abortion ban.
Louisiana made abortion illegal in 2022 with a law triggered by the U.S. Supreme Court overturning its historic Roe v. Wade decision that guaranteed women the right to terminate their pregnancies.
The Louisiana law outlawing abortion only includes exceptions for saving the life of the mother and when there's no path for fetal viability, though critics don't believe either of those exceptions are clear.
Two of the governor's candidates, state Sen. Sharon Hewitt and state Rep. Richard Nelson, both voted in favor of Louisiana's current abortion ban as legislators in 2022, but Nelson said additional exceptions for rape and incest should definitely be added.
Frontrunning Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry supports the current law as is, while Democratic frontrunner Shawn Wilson believes exceptions should be added and Louisiana should revert back to its law before the Supreme Court decision, which legalized early term abortions.
USA Today Network surveyed each of the seven candidates about Louisiana's abortion ban. Following are their unedited responses.
∎State Sen. Sharon Hewitt, Republican: "I've been a consistent vote for pro-life issues," said Hewitt, who noted she authored a Louisiana law that made it illegal for companies to deliver abortion pills through the mail. "(The Supreme Court) changed the landscape. (Exceptions) are an important conversation that deserve more discussion. We need to think this through and be consistent on all issues."
Hewitt later sent an additional statement as a clarification: "I support the abortion laws in Louisiana as written and believe that they clearly provide for exceptions to protect the mother if her life is in danger, for miscarriages, for ectopic pregnancies and for fetuses that are not viable. If more work needs to be done to tighten these exceptions, I will work with the new Legislature."
∎Attorney General Jeff Landry, Republican: “Jeff has always been strongly pro-life and a strong advocate for women’s healthcare. He has been consistent in his support for the pro-life laws currently on the books and he is grateful that Louisiana has led our country in protecting innocent life,” said Kate Kelly campaign, a Landry spokesperson.
∎Hunter Lundy, Independent, attorney: "It's been legislated and I agree with it," Lundy said of the current abortion ban.
∎State Rep Richard Nelson, Republican: "I think we have to add exceptions for rape and incest and clarify the life of the mother and fetal viability exceptions so doctors don't have to worry about going to jail."
∎Treasurer John Schroder, Republican: "I fully support the current law as is," Schroder said.
∎Stephen Waguespack, Republican, former president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and chief of staff for former Gov. Bobby Jindal: "I'm pro-life. I believe the current law is sufficient. But I do believe the state needs to do a much more robust job in supporting women who are pregnant."
∎Shawn Wilson, Democrat, former Louisiana Department of Transportation secretary, Democrat: "I support going back to pre-Dobbs," Wilson said of the previous Louisiana law allowing early term abortions. "I support adding exceptions (to the current ban). Clearly, we should add exceptions for rape and incest and clarify the exception that protects the life of the mother. We as a state don't legislate plans of care for anything other than abortion."
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Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Do any Louisiana governor candidates support exceptions to abortion ban?
