In a recent New York Times profile on one of Nebraska’s two Senate races, Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer (R) is noted as supporting “exceptions to an abortion ban for cases of rape and incest and to protect the life of the mother.” She had also made similar remarks in an interview conducted earlier this month. However, previous comments by Fischer in the past contradict her statements.
While Fischer has consistently supported an exception concerning a mother’s life, she has not always called for such legal framework for rape and incest. In 2012, as a member of the Nebraska Legislature, Fischer was said not to believe in “exceptions should be made for victims of either rape of incest,” according to the Omaha World-Herald. Such statements were made in contrast with then-Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who did back such exceptions.
And in 2018, well into her career as a United States senator, Fischer responded to a questionnaire created by Nebraska chapter of the National Right to Life Committee, wherein she marked herself as not supporting exceptions for rape and incest. And in the 2024 version of this guide, Fischer declined to mark an answer on the same question.
Abortion is expected to be a contentious issue in the state due to two ballot measures: One would create a constitutional right to abortion, and the other would create a constitutional ban after 14 weeks of pregnancy. Currently, Nebraska law permits the procedure at 12 weeks but allows for rape, incest and the life of the mother as exceptions.