Unpacking Democratic Ad Attacking DeSantis, Florida Abortion Law

Ahead of a Fox News debate between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, an ad from a political action committee tied to Newsom claims that a law signed by DeSantis would subject women who get an abortion after six weeks to felony charges.

DeSantis’ campaign calls the claim “a lie,” citing DeSantis’ insistence in media interviews that the law does not criminalize women who get abortions, only physicians who perform them.

Nonetheless, Democrats cite ambiguity in the language of the new law, which would make it a felony for “[a]ny person who willfully performs, or actively participates in, a termination of pregnancy” after six weeks of pregnancy. They say the inclusion of anyone who “actively participates” might subject women getting an abortion to criminal charges. DeSantis insists that only refers to “medical practitioners” and that he does not support penalties for women who get an abortion outside the state’s legal window.

Newsom, a Democrat, and DeSantis, a Republican candidate for president, will square off in a 90-minute debate on Fox News on Nov. 30 in what the network is advertising as “The Great Red vs. Blue State Debate.”