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FACT BRIEF

Did Wisconsin US Senate candidate Eric Hovde say in 2012 that he was completely opposed to abortion rights?

By Tom Kertscher
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YES

Running for U.S. Senate in 2012, Wisconsin Republican Eric Hovde said several times he was totally opposed to abortion rights.

He changed positions in his 2024 Senate run, which again is for the seat held by Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin.

Baldwin claimed in an April 10, 2024, interview that in the 2012 campaign, Hovde said he was “100% opposed to abortion rights.”

Here is what Hovde said in 2012:

Interview: “I am totally opposed to abortion.”

Interview: “Yes,” when asked if Roe v Wade should be overturned.

Candidate questionnaire: “I oppose legalized abortion.”

A liberal blogger reported that Hovde at a campaign event repeatedly called himself “100% pro-life,” but supported exceptions for rape and incest.

In April 2024, Hovde said “women, early on in a pregnancy, should have a right to make a choice,” and that Wisconsin voters should decide at what point in a pregnancy abortion should be illegal.

See a full discussion of this at Wisconsin Watch
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
MSNBC The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell - April 10 | Audio Only
Tyler McKenzie Eric Hovde on the Jerry Bader Show 4/20/12
WisconsinEye (31:20) Campaign 2012: U.S. Senate Candidate Eric Hovde (R)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel On abortion, Eric Hovde says he backs 'a right to make a choice' early in pregnancy
Blogging Blue Eric Hovde says he’s 100% pro-life…until he’s not (with audio)
FOX6 News Milwaukee US Senate race: Candidate talks election, abortion in Milwaukee visit | FOX6 News Milwaukee
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Wisconsin Watch
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.