Female Senators Defy Conservative Lawmakers to Block Abortion Limits in Nebraska and South Carolina

Two conservative-dominated legislatures in South Carolina and Nebraska failed to advance strict new abortion restrictions, signaling a mounting fear among some Republicans that abortion bans could lead to political backlash. Abortion remains legal in both states until 22 weeks of pregnancy. The South Carolina Senate failed to pass a near-total ban on abortion, while in Nebraska, an 80-year-old Republican senator abstained from voting on a six-week ban, stalling the bill. The events caught the attention of national advocates on both sides of the issue, who have been tracking the fast-changing abortion landscape since Roe v. Wade was overturned last June.