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Gabbard Supports Restriction on Third-Trimester Abortions

Other 2020 Democrats expressed support to override state restrictions on third-trimester abortions

September 9, 2019

In an interview on "The Rubin Report" Sunday, Democratic presidential candidate and Hawaii representative Tulsi Gabbard said she did not support third-trimester abortions.

"I think the third trimester, unless a woman’s life or severe health consequences is at risk, then there shouldn’t be an abortion in the third trimester," Gabbard said.

Talk show host Dave Rubin asked Gabbard her position on abortion, and he pointed to some of the increasingly "radical" positions adopted by the Democratic Party and the left in general.

"I take a more libertarian position on this issue," Gabbard said. "That government really shouldn’t be in that place of dictating to a woman the choice that she should make. I think that there should be some restrictions though."

Gabbard explained she supports a woman’s decision to have an abortion but would not have one herself.

"You know, for me personally, I would not make that choice for myself, but I don’t believe I should be telling anybody else the kinds of decisions they should make for themselves or for their family," Gabbard said.

Gabbard was previously pro-life, as Rubin pointed out during the interview.

Earlier this year the topic of late-term abortion sparked controversy when Democrats in the states of Virginia and New York pushed legislation to relax late-term abortion restrictions. New York's bill was passed and signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D.), but Virginia's bill was quashed after a controversy grew regarding the bill's supporters, including Gov. Ralph Northam (D.), apparently endorsing infanticide. Both Northam and the bill's state house sponsor backtracked, claiming not to support infanticide.

The controversy continued when Senate Democrats blocked the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act that would legally protect infants born alive after botched abortion procedures. The bill was meant to require that doctors protect and not terminate the life of any born-alive baby.

Most of the other Democratic presidential candidates have expressed support to override state restrictions on third-trimester abortions.