Before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, abortion was a key litmus test for Republican presidential hopefuls, and many made it the centerpiece of their campaigns in order to win over Christian right influencers and voters who decide Republican primaries. But now Republicans are realizing they need to hoodwink the general electorate. Their response since the court’s ruling has been extreme and horrifying, as state lawmakers enact strict bans with few exceptions. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who until recently has been eager to flaunt his anti-abortion credentials, is the latest entrant to the race to duck the issue on the national stage. But it’s important to remember how closely intertwined anti-abortion organizations are with the governor and his allies.
DeSantis was set to formally announce his candidacy Wednesday night with Twitter owner Elon Musk — not to an admiring Christian right or anti-abortion audience. His announcement video, shared moments before the event started, did not mention abortion. And because the event embarrassingly crashed for most of the people listening, he only had an opportunity to briefly make his announcement to a smaller audience. Again, abortion was absent.
Pro-lifers are a distinct minority, though — a fact not lost on DeSantis or other Republican candidates.
As governor, DeSantis has been a fervent promoter of abortion bans. Last year, two months before the court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, DeSantis signed into law a ban on abortion at 15 weeks of gestation, modeled on the Mississippi law at issue in Dobbs. The signing ceremony was packed with anti-abortion activists and religious figures. DeSantis shared a 45-minute video of the jubilant event on social media. He crowed about his achievement, saying he was “proud to sign this great piece of legislation which represents the most significant protections for life in the state’s modern history.”
As the 2024 presidential race…
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