Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who will need the support of evangelical voters if he enters the 2024 Republican presidential race, signed a bill Thursday evening imposing one of the nation’s strictest abortion limits.
The Heartbeat Protection Act was passed by the Republican-led Florida House earlier Thursday in a 70-40 vote and headed to the governor’s desk. Mr. DeSantis gave his approval after having signaled last month that he would sign it into law.
“We are proud to support life and family in the state of Florida,” he said.
The measure bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, with some exceptions, aligning Florida with a dozen other Republican-led states that have moved to significantly restrict abortion after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and returned the issue to states.
Mr. DeSantis’ signing the bill will encourage the Republican Party’s pro-life evangelical base, which could help propel him in the early primary contests.
via joemiller