What the 2024 Republican candidates are saying about abortion bans

The Republican presidential primary field is full of anti-abortion candidates, but amid massive electoral backlash to abortion bans, some candidates are attempting to backpedal or soften their stances on the campaign trail, or ignore the issue altogether.

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, left, argues a point with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, right, between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX Business Network and Univision, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The 4 Worst Moments From the Second Republican Presidential Debate

The second debate featured seven candidates, who combined, are trailing frontrunner Donald Trump by a whopping 17 points in the polls, making it a bit of an exercise in futility. But even if the debate is unlikely to affect the outcome of the primary, it says a lot about the state of the Republican party.

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., walks to his office after a resolution to debate the defense bill failed 212-214, as five Republicans bucked the party to sink it, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. House Republican leaders have still been unable to pass next year's appropriations bills on the floor due to GOP infighting. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Republicans Are About to Cause a Government Shutdown. Here’s How It Would Affect You.

House Speaker Kevin MccCarthy has repeatedly tried to pass budget proposals that meet the demands of far-right Republicans, but he has been unable to wrangle the necessary 218 votes to pass any of the 12 annual funding bills necessary to prevent a shutdown.

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., talks to reporters about avoiding a government shutdown and launching an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, following a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
No Evidence of Wrongdoing—So Why Are Republicans Trying to Impeach Biden?

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced the probe on Tuesday, caving to pressure from far-right Republicans who’ve threatened to remove him from his position if he fails to impeach Biden.

Former President Donald Trump visits the Alpha Gamma Rho, agricultural fraternity, at Iowa State University before an NCAA college football game between Iowa State and Iowa, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Trump Wants to Cut Corporate Taxes Again

Sixty-five percent of Americans believe corporate taxes should be raised and roughly six in 10 Americans said it bothered them a lot that corporations and some wealthy people “don’t pay their fair share,” according to a Pew survey. Donald Trump has other ideas.

AP Photo/Morry Gash
Republican Candidates Commit to Backing Trump Even if Convicted

Vivek Ramaswamy, Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, Doug Burgum, Nikki Haley, and Mike Pence all pledged to support the former president even if he’s convicted for the many crimes he’s been charged with.

June 1, 2020 file photo  (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Top Trump Official Was Ready to Use Military Against Americans to Stay in Power

Jeffrey Clark, a top Justice Department official under Trump, was prepared to use the Insurrection Act of 1807 to put down any public protests that might have occurred if Trump stayed in office after the 2020 election, against the will of the people.