Salmon Touted His “Lifelong” Pro-Life Record. According to Salmon’s Twitter, “I'm proud of my lifelong conservative record on this issue. Standing next to family and friends at the March for Life and advocating for policies protecting the sanctity of life has been such a humbling honor. https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-conservatives-await-arguments-e4b9f1286e46bd5aa78eebcc466b2aef.” [Twitter, @MattSalmonAZ, 12/1/21]
2015: Salmon Supported An Anti-Choice Bill That Was Pulled By House GOP Leadership For Being Too Extreme. According to The Arizona Republic, “A revised bill authored by U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., that would ban abortions after 20 weeks is expected to be debated and voted on today in the House. The legislation originally was to come to the House floor in January. But it was pulled from consideration by House GOP leaders after some Republicans objected the legislation was too restrictive and would turn off voters… Franks' bill has 184 co-sponsors, including Arizona Republican Reps. Paul Gosar, Matt Salmon and David Schweikert.” [Arizona Republic, 5/13/15]
In A Republican Primary, Salmon Stood Out Due To His Radical Anti-Abortion Views. According to the Arizona Republic, "Gubernatorial candidate Matt Salmon made it known Thursday night that he's the only anti- abortion candidate in a tight three-way primary and would sign a bill as governor to enforce a 24-hour mandatory waiting period for abortions." The other two candidates “said they support the Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade decision that opened the door to legal abortion." [Arizona Republic, 8/23/02]
1994: Salmon Tried To Bribe A 14-Year-Old Rape Survivor Out Of Pursuing An Abortion. In 1994, a case in Arizona made national headlines in which a 14-year-old girl in foster care requested an abortion for a pregnancy that she claimed was the result of rape. Then-State Representative Matt Salmon denounced the Maricopa County Superior Court for granting the late-term abortion, and pledged to provide the girl with a $25,000 college scholarship if she carried the pregnancy to term. According to the Associated Press, Salmon said ‘If the girl decides to have the baby, there will be a scholarship waiting for her.’” [The Associated Press, 8/28/99]
In An Effort To Secure The Women’s Vote, Salmon Trotted Out Female Supporters — Only To Rebut One On Abortion. According to the Arizona Daily Star, “Hoping to cement the women's vote, Republican Matt Salmon trotted out two dozen supporters Monday - and then contradicted one of them on the hot-button issue of abortion… One supporter, Georgia Wolfe, told those in attendance that she originally had some concerns about Salmon's views, particularly on abortion rights. But Wolfe said that after speaking with Salmon she came away convinced that he does not believe government has any role in these decisions… When pushed, though, Salmon said voters should look to his record to determine how he would view other abortion issues, such as requiring a woman to wait 24 hours before the surgery… Those views, Salmon acknowledged, include voting for various restrictions on abortion. Asked about the statement of his supporter that he doesn't believe government has a role in these issues, Salmon responded, ‘I didn't say that.’” [Arizona Daily Star, 9/24/02]
Salmon Called Kari Lake A "Charlatan" And Questioned The Sincerity Of Her Pro-Life Position On Abortion. According to a statement on Salmon's website, "The pro-life debate is a serious one, and it will take a serious candidate with a proven record to defend our movement. In light of yesterday’s oral arguments, I want to urge voters across our state to take a closer look at Kari Lake’s concerning pro-abortion history [...] In next year’s governor race, conservatives cannot afford to nominate a charlatan like Kari Lake who has been with Democrat Katie Hobbs on the issue of abortion and who seems to view the pro-life movement as nothing more than a convenient commodity to exploit for her own personal gain." [MattSalmonForAZ.com, viewed 12/3/21]
Salmon Tweeted, “Hobbs Is A Fringe Democrat Who Supports No Time Limits On Abortion.” According to Salmon’s Twitter, “I heard that @KatieHobbs attacked me on @KTAR923 yesterday. That's not a surprise. Hobbs is a fringe Democrat who supports no time limits on abortions and who supports @JoeBiden's dangerous decision to lift Title 42 at our border. (1/2) .@KatieHobbs is lying to voters about who she is - but Arizonans aren't buying her fiction. It will take a proven conservative to defeat this vapid Democrat & her bad ideas in November, and that's exactly what I plan to do. mattsalmonforaz.com/katie-hobbs-fl… (2/2)” [Twitter, @MattSalmonAZ, 5/11/22]
Salmon Tweeted, “If We Can’t Stand For The Most Innocent Of Life, We Stand For Nothing.” According to Salmon’s Twitter, “The Declaration of Independence states that our guide posts are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. If we can't stand for the most innocent of life, we stand for nothing.” [Twitter, @MattSalmonAZ, 5/5/22]
Laurie Roberts Op-Ed: Salmon Was The Only Candidate Who Was Consistent In Saying That “Rape Victims Should Be Denied Abortions.” According to an op-ed in The Arizona Republic, “Of the three major candidates for governor, only Matt Salmon has been consistent. He consistently says that rape victims should be denied abortions. ‘I support the law we had on the books before Roe v. Wade was decided, which states that no abortion in Arizona is legal except to save the life of the mother, because I believe that it will save the most babies’ lives,’ he said.” [Arizona Republic, Op-Ed, Laurie Roberts, 6/28/22]
Referring to Texas’ S.B.8 Abortion Law, Salmon Said “I Love It. If We Don’t Stand For Life, We Stand For Nothing.” According to The State Press, “Salmon promised to enact anti-abortion policy if elected. Salmon said he supports a recently passed Texas law that bans abortions after six weeks and allows private citizens to sue abortion clinics and anyone who aids in the procedure. ‘I love it,’ Salmon said. ‘If we don't stand for life, we stand for nothing.’” [State Press, 9/21/21]
Salmon: “Today Is A Historic Day For The Millions Of Americans Who Believe In The Sanctity Of Life […] As Governor, I Will Do Everything In My Power To Advance Pro-Life Policies And Advance A Culture That Respects The Sanctity Of Life.” According to Salmon’s website, “Today is a historic moment for the millions of Americans who believe in the sanctity of life. After decades of tireless advocacy, the U.S. Supreme Court has stood up in defense of the Constitution and acknowledged the important role of the states in protecting our world’s most vulnerable. Countless babies’ lives will be saved as a result of this ruling, and, as governor, I will do everything in my power to advance pro-life policies and advance a culture that respects the sanctity of life. These courageous justices deserve credit for doing what is right amid unfair threats and political pressure – and I am forever grateful to the pro-life movement for all of the work they’ve done to make this beautiful day possible.” [MattSalmonForAZ.com, accessed 6/24/22]