Fight over Supreme Court nominee could focus attention on John Cox’s anti-abortion stance
As the looming battle over
Cox has previously said he opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest -- a position that puts him out of step with most
"The right of the unborn child to live ought to be superior to a woman's desire to finish college or compete for a better job," he wrote. "Rape and incest are horrible crimes that should be punished severely; killing the child is punishing the wrong person."
His opposition to abortion was shaped from deeply personal experience. Cox's biological father raped his mother and left the family soon after Cox was born, he said in interviews earlier in his political career.
"I wouldn't be sitting across the table from you if abortion was legal," he told an
Polls have found that more than two-thirds of
Cox has tried to avoid mentioning the issue in his campaign against Democratic Lt. Gov.
"I'm not going to be focusing on social issues," Cox said in an interview the morning after the primary election. "I'm going to be focusing on livability and affordability."
But that could prove difficult amid a high-stakes Supreme Court nomination battle that seems likely to revolve around a woman's right to choose. Trump, who plans to announce his nominee on Monday, vowed during the campaign to put forward justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade -- a 45-year-old decision protecting abortion rights -- although the
Cox's dilemma is similar to that facing pro-life politicians in blue and purple states around the country. They've long been able to point to Roe v. Wade as a reason why pro-choice voters shouldn't worry about their position on abortion.
"With another Trump appointee to the Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade is a very slender reed on which to hang a political alibi," said
Even if the Supreme Court does overturn Roe v. Wade, it's extremely unlikely that abortion would be banned in
The next governor will also have an impact on abortion policy based on their budgets and personnel appointments, said
"He's competing to become governor of the most pro-choice state in the country," she said. "
Cox's campaign didn't say whether the candidate still opposes abortion in cases of rape and incest.
"It's in
Some of Cox's past positions on other social issues could also come back to bite him during his general election campaign, where he already faces a steep climb in heavily Democratic
Other Golden State Republicans are taking different strategies while running in an increasingly blue state. Insurance commissioner candidate
But Poizner is pro-choice and doesn't have the same conservative record as Cox on social issues.
The two most recent Republican governors elected in
"A typical politician would be changing and moderating their beliefs," said Herren, who traveled around the country with Cox during the race. "He's not going to change or adjust, even if it costs him votes -- I'd be shocked if he did."
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