Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, recently stated that their campaign supports federal limits restricting abortion access between 15 and 18 weeks of gestation. This comes after Kennedy’s previous comments in opposition to government limits on abortion were walked back by the campaign. Shanahan explained that the campaign arrived at this position after discussions with both abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion supporters. The campaign stance currently supports limits on abortion and is considering setting those limits between 15 and 18 weeks.
The Kennedy campaign has had shifting viewpoints on abortion, ranging from total opposition to government limits to support for restrictions in the final months of pregnancy in line with Roe v. Wade. Kennedy had previously stated his opposition to any government limits on abortion, including supporting full-term abortions. This led to criticism from anti-abortion groups and prompted his campaign adviser, Angela Stanton King, to publicly denounce his comments. Kennedy later clarified his position, stating that there should be restrictions on abortion in the final months of pregnancy based on the framework established by Roe v. Wade.
Kennedy has previously expressed support for a federal abortion restriction at three months, but his campaign walked back that position. Shanahan also expressed support for individual states deciding on abortion access, reflecting Kennedy’s skepticism of federal government involvement in healthcare. However, she voiced concerns that state-level abortion restrictions could lead to over-politicization of the issue. Democrats have criticized the Kennedy-Shanahan ticket for being untrustworthy on reproductive rights, particularly after Shanahan’s comments about letting states determine abortion access and Kennedy’s previous statements on federal abortion limits.
The DNC accused Kennedy of hiding from his “abortion extremism” while pointing out state-level abortion restrictions that they believe put women’s lives at risk. The statement highlighted the dangerous abortion bans in states such as Alabama and North Dakota that limit women’s access to care. Shanahan responded to criticism from Democrats, accusing them of misrepresenting her policy position and taking cheap shots. She defended the idea of allowing communities to make decisions about abortion access, emphasizing the importance of bringing women’s choice closer to them to address struggles in building families.
Overall, the Kennedy campaign has faced criticism and scrutiny over their changing viewpoints on abortion, from total opposition to government limits to supporting restrictions in the final months of pregnancy. Kennedy and Shanahan’s statements on abortion access, individual state decision-making, and restricting abortion in the final months of pregnancy have sparked controversy and led to accusations of being untrustworthy on reproductive rights. Democrats have been vocal in their criticism of the Kennedy-Shanahan ticket, accusing them of hiding from their positions on abortion and endangering women’s lives with their stance on state-level abortion restrictions.
