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Democrat gov nominee Cunningham says SC should wait until election for abortion law

South Carolina’s Democratic nominee for governor Joe Cunningham on Monday said women’s rights will be on the ballot in November, and called the Legislature to hold off on tackling abortion restrictions until after the general election.

“Women’s rights are on the ballot in November. Reproductive freedom is on the ballot in November. Choice is on the ballot in November,” Cunningham said. “And you know what else is on the ballot? Henry McMaster and the rest of the radical politicians who want to turn the clock back 50 years.”

The former U.S. representative and now gubernatorial hopeful spoke out against restricting access to abortions in his first general election press conference days after the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision to overrule Roe v. Wade.

“I’m calling on Gov. McMaster, Senate President (Thomas) Alexander and Speaker (Murrell Smith) Smith to wait until after the November elections to take up any new abortion laws,” he said. “The people of South Carolina deserve a say in this.”

McMaster called the Supreme Court’s decision a “resounding victory for the Constitution” on Friday. The state’s Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson said his office is prepared to “defend any law passed by the legislature.”

South Carolina already currently law bans abortions after 20 weeks with exceptions if the pregnancy threatens the woman’s life or if the fetus will die because of an anomaly.

The state Legislature passed a six-week abortion ban in 2021 that was blocked in court over its constitutionality. It could take effect soon, after McMaster said motions were to be filed by the end of Friday.

Lawmakers are slated to meet this year to possibly further restrict access to abortions.

Before the court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that constitutionally protects abortions, Smith in May called for the formation of a bipartisan panel meant to hear public testimony on abortion access. The panel will help draft abortion legislation in the House and is expected to begin meeting after July 1.

In response to Cunningham’s demand to put abortion legislation on hold until after the midterm elections, Rep. John McCravy, R-Greenwood, said the request was “more like political grandstanding” than “a serious proposition.”

“We plan in the House of Representatives, we plan to act swiftly and we plan to work on this immediately to make sure that we solidify our protections for the unborn and preserve life in the state,” McCravy, who will chair the House’s committee, told The State.

Alexander, R-Oconee, did not respond to a request for comment by press deadline.

Democratic candidate for South Carolina Governor, Joe Cunningham, speaks during a press conference on Monday, June 27, 2022, at the South Carolina Democratic Party headquarters in Columbia.
Democratic candidate for South Carolina Governor, Joe Cunningham, speaks during a press conference on Monday, June 27, 2022, at the South Carolina Democratic Party headquarters in Columbia.

Cunningham organized the conference Monday to discuss the U.S. Supreme Court decision, sharing stories from voters he has met. He also said the ruling upended almost 50 years of precedent for the “established right.”

“For the first time since our nation’s founding, our daughters now have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers. And that is simply unconscionable,” Cunningham said.

If elected, Cunningham said he will promptly veto any abortion bans.

“Let me be clear, when I’m governor and a bill that bans abortion with no exceptions comes to my desk, I will veto it so hard it’ll make your head spin. So the choice in this election is clear,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham told reporters his past work during Trump’s presidency proves that he can accomplish bipartisan work in a Republican-led body. Currently, both sides of the State House are under a Republican majority.

When asked whether he could support any limits to abortion access, Cunningham repeated that he would veto any bans.

“We (are) looking to codify Roe and we think that is the right compromise,” Cunningham said.

Makiya Seminera contributed to this report.