According to a Pew Research study, 52% of Iowans believe abortion should be illegal while 46% think it should be illegal in most cases.
IRTL does not endorse particular candidates, Judkins explained, though it has been developing a voter guide that summarizes the record and perspectives of the various candidates.
Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Republican candidates have been split on when and how to limit abortion at a federal level. DeSantis has promoted his own state’s six-week fetal heartbeat law, but former president Donald Trump has said that making this a national restriction would be too harsh.
While as president Trump appointed three justices to the United States Supreme Court — who went on to join the high court’s majority in overturning Roe v. Wade — he subsequently criticized DeSantis’ six-week abortion ban, calling it “a terrible thing” in a September 2023 interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Trump currently enjoys the support of 51.3% of likely Iowa Republican voters, followed by DeSantis with 18.6% and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley with 16.1%.
DeSantis strongly criticized Trump on the issue during a Jan. 5 CNN town hall event in the state. When asked if he thought Trump was pro-life, he replied: “Of course not!”