GOP nominee for Nevada governor says he’d fight a national abortion ban

The GOP’s nominee for Nevada governor mentioned Thursday he would combat in opposition to a nationwide abortion ban if Congress have been to go one.

“It is the vote of the folks inside the state of Nevada, and I’ll assist that,” Joe Lombardo, who is usually anti-abortion, advised reporters whereas campaigning within the state with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. “That is a matter that does not should be in politics.”

Nevada voters codified the suitable to abortion as much as 24 weeks into legislation in a 1990 referendum. Any order to additional prohibit abortion must come from a vote of the folks, not the state legislature, in contrast to in lots of different states.

Earlier this week, South Carolina’s Sen. Lindsey Graham proposed a near-total abortion ban after 15 weeks. The laws undermined many GOP candidates’ arguments this summer time that the way forward for abortion rights within the U.S. could be determined by particular person states.

Lombardo, who’s the Clark County sheriff, has lengthy maintained that as governor he would respect the 1990 vote although he’s Catholic and customarily doesn’t assist abortion.

Nonetheless, a nationwide abortion ban would supersede Nevada legislation, and it’s unclear how Lombardo may combat one.

Lombardo’s remark got here in distinction to some Republicans who’ve shied away or supported Graham’s proposal. Republican April Becker, a candidate in Nevada’s third Congressional District, opposes abortion apart from cases of rape and incest. However she advised NBC Information this week that she would vote in opposition to a nationwide abortion ban, calling it unconstitutional for Congress to manage abortion.

Additionally on Thursday, New Mexico’s Republican governor nominee proposed a referendum that might place new limitations on abortion entry.

Following the Supreme Courtroom’s resolution in June to overturn Roe v. Wade, Nevada Gov. Sisolak signed an govt order saying Nevada is not going to help different states that attempt to prosecute residents who journey to Nevada for abortions. It additionally ensures medical boards and commissions that oversee medical licenses don’t self-discipline or disqualify medical doctors who present abortions.

Although he has stepped again from when he mentioned he would overturn the chief order, Lombardo has maintained that he would “have a look at it from the lens of being a pro-life governor.”

After Thursday’s rally, Sisolak spokesperson Natalie Gould launched a press release saying “Joe Lombardo is mendacity.”

Lombardo and Youngkin spent the day holding occasions in each Las Vegas and Reno, the place the Virginia governor evoked his personal high-profile victory a 12 months in the past.

Lombardo attacked the Democratic incumbent Sisolak on schooling, crime and for closing nonessential companies early within the COVID-19 pandemic. He talked of additional diversifying Nevada’s financial system, extra energy for varsity decision-making to oldsters and increasing constitution faculties.

“This was a motion,” Youngkin mentioned of his victory in a while. “And that motion is right here now. It is your flip.”