Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who has signed some of the nation’s most restrictive abortion laws, wouldn’t disclose Saturday how he felt about the controversies members of his party have faced for supporting loosening abortion access late into a pregnancy.
“My record speaks for itself,” he said.
“My record can only be contrasted with that,” he responded when pressed about the issue. “I obviously believe in the approach that we are taking and my record of being pro-life.”
Edwards, who was attending the National Governors Association’s winter conference in Washington, D.C., deflected several questions regarding his thoughts on policies other states have put in place to provide better access to abortion later in a pregnancy or what he thought about his party’s direction on abortion.
Republicans have attacked Democrats and abortion rights groups in recent weeks following support for policies to undo restrictions on third-trimester abortions, brought about by comments Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam made appearing to show he supported the procedure up until the time of birth. Northam’s office later released a statement saying that the governor’s comments were mischaracterized and had been intended in cases where a baby wouldn’t survive birth because of deformity or another health issue.
New York has loosened restrictions on third-trimester abortion, and other states including Illinois and Massachusetts are considering similar measures, in a push to protect abortion rights at the state level in response to fears a more conservative-leaning Supreme Court will move to dismantle the landmark 1973 abortion rights case Roe v. Wade.
Anti-abortion groups tend to rally behind Republicans, but they consider Edwards to be one of the biggest champions for their cause. Edwards in 2018 signed more abortion limits into law in Louisiana than any other state, according to a report by the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Edwards in the past has pointed to the restrictions, as well as his expansion of Medicaid to the poor under Obamacare, as demonstrating he believes “life should be respected at every stage.”
But his record on abortion is out of step from the Democratic National Committee, which views abortion as inseparable from the issue of healthcare access. The DNC’s 2016 platform opposes abortion restrictions, saying it should be “safe and legal” and dropping its previous emphasis that the procedure should also be “rare.” The DNC has called for repealing the Hyde Amendment that blocks federal funding from paying for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or when a woman’s pregnancy is life-threatening.
Democrats have emphasized that their support for abortion rights cannot budge. The Trump administration has moved to block federal funding on family planning from organizations that also provide abortions, and cases restricting abortion are making their way to the Supreme Court, whose majority has shifted to the right with President Trump’s nominations of Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
Asked whether he believed the party should be more open to Democrats who identify as “pro-life,” Edwards replied, “Sure, absolutely.”
