Abortion Debate Divides Congressional Republicans as Graham Stands Alone
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has found himself increasingly isolated within his own party as he continues to push for federal restrictions on abortion, a position that has fallen out of favor with the majority of congressional Republicans.
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that overturned the federal constitutional right to abortion, the GOP has largely coalesced behind former President Donald Trump’s view that the issue should be left to individual states to decide. This shift has left Graham, the sponsor of a bill that would have instituted a 15-week federal abortion ban, on an ideological island among his Republican colleagues.
“I texted Trump, I said, really well done. I mean it really was. I was like, thank you, thank you for doing it,” said Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a co-sponsor of Graham’s legislation. Cramer admitted there is likely “some relief” among Republicans that Trump has taken the position of deferring to the states on abortion policy.
Other staunch conservative senators, including Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Rick Scott (R-FL), have also voiced agreement with Trump’s stance that abortion is now squarely within the jurisdiction of individual states. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS), another co-sponsor of Graham’s 15-week ban bill, told the Daily Mail that he “couldn’t think of anything” he disagreed with in Trump’s statement on the issue.
The shift among Senate Republicans represents a significant departure from the party’s previous support for federal abortion restrictions. Just months ago, Graham’s 15-week ban bill had garnered the backing of several of his colleagues. However, the political calculus appears to have changed in the wake of the Dobbs decision and Trump’s public pronouncement.
“It’s absolutely false to say Republicans support a federal ban,” declared Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), the chairman of the Senate GOP’s campaign arm, who also co-sponsored Graham’s legislation. Daines clarified that he meant an outright ban, stating that Republicans should instead “come together and be reasonable on late term abortions, with exceptions for rape.”
The abortion debate has laid bare a rift between Trump and one of his biggest congressional allies, Graham. The former president lashed out at the South Carolina senator, saying he was to blame for Graham’s political success in the state. “I blame myself for Lindsey Graham, because the only reason he won in the Great State of South Carolina is because I Endorsed him!” Trump said in a series of posts on Truth Social.
Dobbs does not require that conclusion legally and the pro-life movement has always been about the wellbeing of the unborn child – not geography.”
The Dobbs decision, which stripped federal protections for a woman’s right to abortion, has left states grappling with a patchwork of new restrictions and legal battles. Trump’s latest position on the issue represents a shift from his previous statements, which have ranged from supporting punishment for women who obtain abortions to hinting at potential backing for a 15-week federal ban.
As the Republican Party navigates the post-Dobbs landscape, the divide within the party has become increasingly apparent. While Graham remains steadfast in his push for federal abortion limits, the majority of his GOP colleagues appear to have embraced Trump’s state-centric approach, a move that could have significant political implications in the upcoming midterm elections.
