Should Abortion Be Legal?

2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SITE

Last updated on: 7/31/2019 11:50:20 AM PST

The debate over whether abortion should be a legal option continues to divide Americans long after the US Supreme Court's 7-2 decision on Roe v. Wade declared the procedure a "fundamental right" on Jan. 22, 1973. Abortion access laws vary from state to state, with some states protecting the procedure in constitutions and other states having near total bans. For more information, visit abortion.procon.org.

Pro

Biden

Hawkins

Con

Trump

Not Clear or Not Found

Pro (Yes)

Pro

Joe Biden
Democrat

"As president, Biden will be a champion for improving access to health care and the health of all by:

Expanding access to contraception and protect the constitutional right to an abortion...

Reverse the Trump Administration and states’ all-out assault on women’s right to choose. As president, Biden will work to codify Roe v. Wade, and his Justice Department will do everything in its power to stop the rash of state laws that so blatantly violate the constitutional right to an abortion, such as so-called TRAP laws [Targeted Restrictions on Abortion Providers], parental notification requirements, mandatory waiting periods, and ultrasound requirements."

Source: Joe Biden, "Healthcare," joebiden.com (accessed Aug. 7, 2019)

Pro

Howie Hawkins
Green

"I support the legal framework established in the Roe v. Wade decision. During the first trimester, it is up to the pregnant woman to decide whether to get an abortion. During the second trimester laws can only regulate abortion to protect the health of the mother. During the third trimester, or after fetal viability pursuant to Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), laws can restrict or prohibit abortions except in cases where it was necessary to protect the mother’s health. This framework should be codified into federal law by an act of Congress. I oppose targeted regulation of abortion clinics and providers through laws or policies that go beyond what is necessary to ensure patients’ safety. I support laws that allow physicians as well as non-physician health professionals, including physicians’ assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives, to perform abortion procedures."

Source: Howie Hawkins, "Green Party National Women’s Caucus Presidential Candidate Questionnaire for 2020," howiehawkins.us (accessed June 24, 2020)

Con (No)

Now Con

Donald Trump
Republican

"As most people know, and for those who would like to know, I am strongly Pro-Life, with the three exceptions - Rape, Incest and protecting the Life of the mother - the same position taken by Ronald Reagan. We have come very far in the last two years with 105 wonderful new Federal Judges (many more to come), two great new Supreme Court Justices, the Mexico City Policy, and a whole new & positive attitude about the Right to Life. The Radical Left, with late term abortion (and worse), is imploding on this issue. We must stick together and Win for Life in 2020. If we are foolish and do not stay UNITED as one, all of our hard fought gains for Life can, and will, rapidly disappear!"

Source: Donald Trump, twitter.com, May 18, 2019

[Editor's Note: Trump previously expressed NOT CLEARLY PRO OR CON and PRO opinions on this question. Read Trump's former positions on whether abortion should be legal.]