Louis Jacobson, PolitiFact
Tim Sheehy “would let politicians like him ban abortion, with no exceptions for rape or to save a woman’s life, and criminalize women.”
A Facebook advert from the marketing campaign of Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), launched on Sept. 6, 2024
In a race that would determine management of the U.S. Senate, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) is attacking his challenger, Republican Tim Sheehy, for his stance on abortion.
Montana’s Senate race is one in all a half-dozen tight contests across the nation during which Democrats are defending seats wanted to maintain their one-seat majority. If Republicans flip Tester’s seat, they might take over the chamber even when they fail to oust Democrats in every other key races.
In a series of Facebook ads launched in early September, Tester’s marketing campaign stated Sheehy helps banning abortion with no exceptions.
An advert launched on Sept. 6 stated, “Tim Sheehy wants to take away the freedom to choose what happens with your own body, and give that power to politicians. Sheehy would let politicians like him ban abortion, with no exceptions for rape or to save a woman’s life, and criminalize women. We can’t let Tim Sheehy take our freedom away.”
Sheehy’s Anti-Abortion Stance Allows for Rape, Health Exceptions
Sheehy’s web site calls him “proudly pro-life,” and he’s campaigning towards abortion. He opposes a measure on Montana’s November poll that might amend the Montana Constitution to supply the fitting to “make and carry out decisions about one’s own pregnancy, including the right to abortion.”
In July, we rated False Sheehy’s assertion that Tester and different Democrats have voted for “elective abortions up to and including the moment of birth. Healthy, 9-month-year-old baby killed at the moment of birth.”
But opposite to the brand new advert’s message, Sheehy has voiced help for exceptions.
In a Montana Public Radio interview in May, Sheehy was requested, “Yes or no, do you support a federal ban on abortion?”
Sheehy stated, “I am proudly pro-life and support commonsense protections for when a baby can feel pain, as well as exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother, and I believe any further limits must be left to each state.”
And in a June debate with Tester, Sheehy stated, “I’ll always protect the three rights for women: rape, incest, life of the mother.”
The issues section of Sheehy’s marketing campaign web site doesn’t say that he has a no-exceptions stance, nor does it say he would “criminalize women” who’ve abortions.
In a press release, the Sheehy marketing campaign informed PolitiFact that the advert mischaracterizes Sheehy’s abortion place. Allowing no exceptions “has never been Tim’s position,” the marketing campaign stated.
Our Ruling
The Tester marketing campaign’s advert says Sheehy “would let politicians like him ban abortion, with no exceptions for rape or to save a woman’s life, and criminalize women.”
Sheehy has stated he helps abortion ban exceptions for rape or to avoid wasting a pregnant girl’s life. We discovered no situations of him saying he can be OK with states criminalizing girls who obtain abortions in violation of state legal guidelines.
What offers the advert a kernel of fact is that Sheehy has voiced help for letting states determine abortion parameters inside their borders. The Tester marketing campaign argues that this implies Sheehy would successfully allow legislators to move abortion restrictions that don’t embrace exceptions or that criminalize girls.
The Tester marketing campaign’s argument depends on hypotheticals and ignores Sheehy’s acknowledged help for exceptions, giving a deceptive impression of Sheehy’s place.
We fee it Mostly False.
Our Sources
Jon Tester, Facebook ad, Sept. 6, 2024
Tim Sheehy, campaign issues page, accessed Sept. 12, 2024
KFF, “Policy Tracker: Exceptions to State Abortion Bans and Early Gestational Limits,” final up to date July 29, 2024
Montana Public Radio, “Q&A: Tim Sheehy, Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate,” May 15, 2024
Montana Senate debate (excerpt), June 9, 2024
Last Best Place PAC, “choice” web page, accessed Sept. 12, 2024
Montana Republican Party, 2024 platform, accessed Sept. 12. 2024
Daily Montanan, “Sheehy criticizes ballot measures, including initiative to protect abortion,” Aug. 22, 2024
Sabato’s Crystal Ball, “Where Abortion Rights Will (or Could) Be on the Ballot,” July 9, 2024
Heartland Signal, “Unearthed audio shows Tim Sheehy calling abortion ‘sinful,’ wanting it to ‘end tomorrow,’” Aug. 30, 2024
Montana Independent, “Jon Tester accuses Tim Sheehy of lying about abortion during first Senate campaign debate,” June 11, 2024
Statement to PolitiFact from the Sheehy marketing campaign
Statement to PolitiFact from the Tester marketing campaign
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