GOP Lawmaker Issues Warning Over Abortion Stances, Fears Party May Be “Walking the Plank” with Voters

In a stark warning to fellow Republicans, Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has raised concerns that the party could be “walking the plank” with voters as they push for various abortion restrictions. Mace, a vocal critic of what she deems as “extreme” positions on abortion within her own party, particularly regarding cases of rape, incest, and protecting pregnant individuals’ lives, expressed her unease in a recent interview.

“As a Republican woman in 2023, this feels like a very lonely place to be. I often feel like I’m the only woman on our side of the aisle advocating for issues that all women should care about,” Mace shared in an interview with CNN, which aired on Sunday.

She highlighted the fact that no woman wishes to find herself in a situation where she needs to make a decision about abortion and questioned the party’s efforts to provide alternatives and support. Mace called for a focus on improving the foster care system and childcare options, emphasizing that these critical areas have received inadequate attention.

Additionally, Mace has been a proponent of expanded access to birth control and gynecological care within her party, advocating for a more comprehensive approach to reproductive healthcare.

When asked by CNN’s Dana Bash about the potential repercussions for GOP lawmakers in moderate districts due to their positions on abortion and reproductive issues, Mace expressed her concern, stating, “I think they’re walking the plank.”

This is not the first time Rep. Mace has employed the “walking the plank” analogy to criticize her party’s actions. She previously cautioned that efforts to impeach President Joe Biden could place vulnerable House Republicans in a precarious position leading up to the 2024 elections, potentially forcing them into unpopular stances and jeopardizing their seats and the Republican majority in the House.

“Every time we walk the plank, we are putting moderate members, members that won Biden districts, at risk for 2024,” Mace remarked in a previous appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” underscoring the potential consequences of divisive actions within the party.