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Did Wisconsin US Sen. Ron Johnson suggest that people who do not like their state's abortion laws should move?

By Erin Gretzinger
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YES

In a 2019 interview, Wisconsin's Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson advocated for letting states, rather than the federal government, decide on abortion restrictions. That way, he said, "if you don’t like the result in your state that you currently reside in, you can move."

But during his time in Congress, Johnson has co-sponsored bills that would have placed restrictions on abortion at the federal level, including the 2011 Life at Conception Act, which would have granted "the right to life" for "each born and preborn human person" starting "at the moment of conception."

In his 2022 Senate campaign, Johnson has proposed a referendum to allow voters to decide Wisconsin's abortion laws. But that would require the GOP-controlled Legislature to put the measure on the ballot. And Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has said lawmakers will fight to keep Wisconsin's 1849 law in place.

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Sources
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sen. Ron Johnson opposes new Alabama law banning abortion after six weeks
US Congress S.91 - Life at Conception Act112th Congress (2011-2012)
Wisconsin Public Radio Ron Johnson pitches unlikely 'direct referendum' to add rape, incest exceptions to 1849 abortion ban
WISN Vos says legislation adding exceptions for rape or incest to state's abortion ban 'unlikely'
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Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.