Ron DeSantis says ‘liberal’ New Hampshire would reject Florida-style abortion ‘Heartbeat Bill’

NBD NH DeSantis
'I don't think like a New Hampshire is going to do what Iowa did.'

Gov. Ron DeSantis says he’s ready to make America Florida, except when it comes to protecting the rights of the unborn.

In that case, the “Never Back Down” motto seems to leave a wide berth for compromise on the controversial issue of reproductive rights.

In remarks Saturday in Manchester, New Hampshire, the Florida Governor and 2024 Republican presidential candidate said “liberal” states like New Hampshire wouldn’t accept a nationalized version of the Sunshine State’s Heartbeat Protection Act, which bans abortion after the sixth week of gestation except in the case of rare exceptions.

“Look, I think I understand that, you know, you’re going to have different states do that differently. I don’t, I don’t think like a New Hampshire is going to do what Iowa did,” DeSantis said, referencing Iowa’s own six-week abortion ban.

“And I recognize that I understand that, I understand Pennsylvania may not do what Texas did. But I think in places where you have an opportunity to make an impact, you know, we want to stand on the side of a culture of life.”

DeSantis went on to suggest the Granite State wasn’t a place where such an “impact” could be made, however.

“I mean, New Hampshire, for example, is more liberal than some of these states say in like the South or the Midwest.”

Saturday’s comments in Manchester continue a trend of the Governor softening his abortion message now that he’s away from the people upon whom he’s imposed one of the most restrictive laws in the country.

“I’m pro-life. I have a record of promoting a culture of life in Florida, just like they’ve done in Iowa, just like they’ve done in South Carolina. Dobbs returned it to the political branches. I think the reality is that basically means the states are going to have primary control over it. You know, I do think the federal government would have an interest in, say, preventing post-birth abortions or things that are really horrific, but I don’t think that there’s enough consensus in the country to see a lot of mileage in Congress,” Ron DeSantis said August 7 on NBC News’ “Today” show.

“What I’ve said is, you know, if you want to protect life, it’s a bottom-up movement. And so, let’s work with states that have done it. Work in your local communities. But you also have to understand, you know, what Iowa’s done is not what New Hampshire is going to do, and what Wisconsin will do is not what Texas is going to do,” DeSantis added.

DeSantis has said at various points that New Hampshire, New England, New York and California wouldn’t accept a national Heartbeat Protection Act, though he has messaged on the law in Iowa, which has its own version of the law.

“I’m conscious of the diversity of opinion in the United States, New England is different than Wisconsin is different than Georgia. You know, but at the end of the day, you know, we do want to promote a culture of life,” DeSantis said during an interview on WMUR’s “Conversations with the Candidate.”

DeSantis’ abortion positioning has not gone unnoticed on the right. The Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group has groused that the Governor’s belief that the pro-life movement is a “bottom-up” movement is “unacceptable.”

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. His work also can be seen in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and National Review, among other publications. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


10 comments

  • Thomas Kaspar

    August 19, 2023 at 3:31 pm

    Light weight political spam . Sad

    • Rob

      August 19, 2023 at 5:25 pm

      Slurp slurp slurp says Thomas Kaspar from underneath Lil Ronnie’s table.

  • Dorine

    August 19, 2023 at 3:32 pm

    So you (Florida Politics) are covering the presidential race with the key words being: abortion, Florida, Heartbeat Protection Act, new hampshire & Ron DeSantis. Respectfully, it’s a pretty good report, except my first question after reading was, “What are the other top candidates positions in the New Hampshire primary on the heartbeat bill and/or on abortion?” At least compare the top three and even four if space allows..

    • Dont Say FLA

      August 19, 2023 at 4:12 pm

      They all say exact same lines. Anybody that thinks outside Ronna’s box gets DQ’d

  • University of North Florida

    August 19, 2023 at 4:04 pm

    Guess what? Floridians rejected it too. Did it anyway

  • Dale A Arnold

    August 19, 2023 at 5:17 pm

    We shall see what Florida says when the abortion amendment gets on the ballot to be voted on. I think it will go the way that it did in Ohio, Kentucky and Kansas. Hence all the road blocks the legislators put in the way of the people… Republicans are out of step with the people on this and many other issues!
    Sign the petition to get it on the ballot!

  • Cheesy Floridian

    August 20, 2023 at 8:12 pm

    He never said out loud during the last fl election if he would push for a 6 week ban but anyone paying attention knew he’d try. He’s full of bs. If the house and senate God forbid went republican and a republican won the White House the standard of care for pregnancy medical care would go way down the drain

  • wendy

    August 21, 2023 at 3:58 pm

    He was only reelected in FL because he didn’t come out and say he’d push for a “heartbeat” bill here and he’s lying about it now on the national stage. Also, he knows there is no such thing as a post-birth abortion but continues to utter such nonsense to rile up the rubes who actually believe this crap.

    • Cheesy Floridan

      August 25, 2023 at 10:45 am

      Thank you Wendy!!!

  • Alyssa Paula

    August 24, 2023 at 5:34 am

    A valuable insight into hormonal pills and contraceptive injections. But if you still get pregnant and do not want to continue, visit our site for help.

Comments are closed.


#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Jesse Scheckner, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704