Many of the Republican presidential candidates who spoke at a major gathering of evangelical voters over the weekend called for new restrictions on abortion one year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the nearly 50-year right to the procedure.

The support from GOP White House hopefuls comes as polls show an increasing number of Americans support abortion rights and oppose the high court's ruling. 

What You Need To Know

  • Many of the Republican presidential candidates who spoke at a major gathering of evangelical voters over the weekend called for new restrictions on abortion

  • The support from GOP White House hopefuls comes as polls show an increasing number of Americans support abortion rights and oppose the high court's ruling

  • Former Vice President Mike Pnece urged his GOP competitors to, at minimum, support a nationwide ban on abortions before 15 weeks of pregnancy

  • There is evidence that opposition to abortion rights hurt Republicans in last year's elections, creating a challenge for the party in wooing the moderate voters seen as necessary to win the White House

Abortion was front and center at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s annual conference in Washington last weekend, which brought together evangelical voters to hear from nearly every GOP presidential hopeful.

"Thank God almighty for the Dobbs decision," said South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. “We are creating a culture of life in America, and that's a really good thing.”

Among those who spoke over the weekend, former Vice President Mike Pence went the furthest, urging each of his competitors to, at minimum, support a nationwide ban on abortions before 15 weeks of pregnancy.

“It's important for us to remember the battle for life is far from over,” Pence said, arguing a 15-week ban would put the U.S. in line with many European countries. “We've not come to the end of our cause; we’ve simply come to the end of the beginning.”

Former President Donald Trump didn't go as far as his ex-running mate, but instead touted his appointment of three conservative Supreme Court justices who were part of last year's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health.

"The greatest progress for pro-life is now being made in the states, where everyone wanted it to be," he said. 

Tim Head, executive director of the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference, said his organization, and many evangelical voters, like the idea of a federal abortion ban.

"Any piece of legislation that saves a baby, we're for," he said. "We want to obviously save as many as possible and eventually get to the place where we've completely eradicated abortion from the United States. We're moving in that direction."

Head says anti-abortion groups are trying to build on last summer's court ruling by taking the fight to state legislatures. So far, 14 states have passed laws limiting or banning abortion, and others are moving in that direction.

"We're working to win as many states, singularly, as possible, and then continuing to plot away on a potential 20-week, 15-week, 12-week or below from the national and federal perspective," Head added. 

Despite a show of support for abortion from GOP presidential candidates, polls show that since the Supreme Court ruling more Americans support abortion rights.

A poll published last week by NPR, “PBS NewsHour” and Marist College found that 57% of Americans oppose the court’s decision to strike down Roe while 40% support it. A Gallup poll from earlier this month found that a record-high 69% of Americans say abortion should generally be legal in the first trimester of pregnancy. 

And according to a USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll, one in four Americans say state efforts to restrict abortion access have made them more supportive of abortion rights.

There is evidence that opposition to abortion rights hurt Republicans in last year's elections, creating a challenge for the party in wooing the moderate voters seen as necessary to win the White House.

Vivek Ramaswamy, the only millennial Republican presidential candidate, told Spectrum News his party should stress abortion as an issue of human rights instead of women's rights.

"I think I'm the only candidate that says ... let's actually be open to a discussion in this country about policy on contraception, about policy on adoption, even child care, drawing from Social Security later in life, earlier when parents may need it," Ramaswamy said. 

Vice President Kamala Harris said during a speech over the weekend in North Carolina that the Supreme Court's decision created a "health care crisis" in America. She also called on voters to support the Biden administration's efforts to enact federal protections for abortion access and oppose a national abortion ban.

"Ultimately, the United States Congress must put back in place what the Supreme Court took away," she said to the crowd.

Despite that, evangelical leaders like Head are pressing on in their efforts to ban abortion outright. 

 "The deal is not done," Head said. "The battle is not completely won."

Spectrum News' Ryan Chatelain contributed to this report.