MADISON, Wis. — Tim Michels is floundering, trying to flip his anti-abortion agenda after months of touting his support for Wisconsin’s extreme 1849 abortion ban, which contains no exceptions for rape or incest. His claims today contradict every previous statement Michels had made on this issue, including that the 1849 ban on abortion that doesn’t include exceptions for rape or incest is “an exact mirror” of his position and reiterating a mere two weeks ago that he will not “soften” his stance on rape and incest exceptions but would hold his extreme views “until the bitter end.” 

Now, Michels is not changing his position – he pathetically believes voters will ignore the decades of radical positions he’s taken on this issue.

Michels’ family’s foundation donated to a group seeking to fully outlaw abortion and eliminate the life of the mother exception from the 1849 law. The same group also wants to ban birth control and IVF. 

Recent reporting shows that in a 2004 survey Tim Michels filled out for Pro-Life PAC, Michels said he opposed abortion without exception for rape, incest, life of the mother, or fetal abnormality, and supported a radical “Human Life Admendement,” otherwise known as a personhood amendment. This amendment to the US constitution would have banned abortion nationwide in all 50 states, and provided protections granted by the 14th Amendment to fertilized eggs. An amendment like this could have broader impacts on IVF and forms of birth control like IUDs and Plan B. 

“Tim Michels has no interest in giving an inch on abortion – he has made it clear since he started his campaign that he wants the most extreme ban on abortion in Wisconsin,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Spokesperson Courtney Beyer. “Not only did Michels say that he doesn’t want to soften his stance on the issue, he said changing it would be a negative for him, and undermine his image as a ‘strong leader.’ Sorry Tim, there is no walking back your extreme anti-abortion stances.”

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