Three Republican senators in South Carolina who struck down the abortion ban were defeated in the primary election this month.
Katrina Shealy, Sandy Senn and Penry Gustafson lost to three male candidates and were among a bipartisan group of five female senators who struck down the abortion ban. They were nicknamed “brother senators”.
As a result of their coordinated effort, the group was selected to receive the John F. Kennedy Courage Award last year.
“During the filibuster, each of the five lawmakers took turns describing the complexities of pregnancy and the reproductive system, the dangers of lack of contraceptive options, and inadequate privacy laws,” she said. announcement that they have received the award. “In the immediate aftermath of their fibibusters, the sister senators were heckled and harassed by anti-abortion activists. All three Republicans faced strong opposition from their own party, including condemnation and promises of primary challenges in 2024.”
Shealy made the concession to Carlisle Kennedy, Post and Courier, on Tuesday night informedaccording to one, collecting 37.5% of votes informal reporting of preliminary flow results Posted by South Carolina on Tuesday night. Shealy represents a county in the middle of the state surrounding the capital of Columbia.
Kennedy’s campaign website says she is “proudly pro-life” and that she will “work to protect the unborn and advocate for policies that support mothers and families.”
The results follow from Gustafson and Senn lost during the primaries earlier this month.
Gustafson, who represents three counties in the northern part of the state, narrowly lost to Allen Blackmon during the June 11 primary after Blackmon received 82% of the vote. Blackmon also ran on an anti-abortion platform, saying on her campaign website that the “born and preborn” “deserve to be protected.”
Senn, who represents the southeastern part of the state, including the Charleston area, narrowly lost his race by just 30 votes to Matt Leber. Leber has served in the South Carolina House since 2022 and voted for him state bill, signed the lawit prohibits abortion after “detection of a fetal heartbeat.”