Republican Women Senators in South Carolina Face Losses After Defeating Near-Total Abortion Ban

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
12/06/2024 22h02

In a surprising turn of events, three Republican women senators in South Carolina who played a pivotal role in defeating a near-total abortion ban are now facing losses in their re-election bids. Despite being honored with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award for their stand against the ban, voters have handed these senators two losses and a runoff in Tuesday's primary.

The three senators joined forces with Democratic women to oppose the measure, arguing that a pregnant woman should not lose control of her body as soon as an egg is fertilized. However, with only two Democratic women in the Senate out of the 46 members, the potential loss of Republican women representation in the chamber is seen as a setback for women in the state.

Senator Katrina Shealy, who is heading into a runoff, expressed her frustration, stating, "You can't tell me that's not a slap in the face of women. Republican women lose like this over one issue when we fought so hard for other things."

The defeat of the near-total abortion ban goes against the trend of reconsidering more restrictive abortion laws. Statewide polling has indicated that such a ban does not enjoy widespread support. However, the low voter turnout and the fact that races were predominantly held in Republican-drawn districts, where voters tend to be more passionate about issues like abortion, may have influenced the outcomes.

The compromise reached by the Republican women senators eventually led to a ban on abortion once cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks after conception. However, these smaller battles and compromises proved to be unpopular among some voters who did not support their stance on abortion.

While abortion was not the sole reason for Senator Penry Gustafson's loss, her sole opponent, Allen Blackman, who believes life begins at conception, asserted that Gustafson had little support in her newly redrawn district. Constituents also claimed that she did not adequately address their concerns.

Senator Sandy Senn's loss to state Representative Matt Leber was extremely close, with only a 31-vote difference. Although a recount is possible, it is unlikely to have a significant impact on the outcome. The race was marred by accusations, with Senn posting signs featuring Leber's mugshot, which he claimed were based on inflated accusations that never resulted in convictions. The redistricting process may have also played a role in Senn's defeat, as her redrawn district now includes more conservative voters.

Despite these losses, Senator Shealy managed to survive the primary but received only 40% of the vote. She will now face attorney and political newcomer Carlisle Kennedy in a runoff on June 25. Notably, billboards questioning Shealy's "pro-life" stance were prevalent in her district, which has been instrumental in transitioning the state from Democratic to Republican control over the past five decades. Kennedy has not responded to messages seeking comment.

Shealy, who initially aimed to remain above the fray during the primary, expressed her intention to change tactics for the runoff, even if it means alienating those who are uncomfortable with women taking a stand. She highlighted the need for female representation in the Senate, as women constitute 55% of registered voters in South Carolina. Issues she champions, such as free lunch for all schoolchildren, could potentially be ignored if she loses, thereby depriving marginalized groups of a voice.

Shealy's impact as a trailblazer cannot be understated, as she was the first woman elected to the Senate after a four-year all-male reign. However, the potential loss of these Republican women senators could mean that by 2025, the state Senate may have only two women, both Democrats, further diminishing the perspectives and concerns of a significant portion of the population.

As the recount for Senator Senn's race concludes later this week, the future of these women in South Carolina politics hangs in the balance. Only time will tell if their fight for women's rights and other important issues resonated enough with voters to secure their presence in the Senate.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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