¶ Overview
Raffensperger was an anti-abortion extremist who believed that “life and personhood begins at the moment of fertilization and ends at natural death.”
In 2016, as a state representative, Raffensperger sponsored “a constitutional amendment to ‘recognize the paramount right to life of all human beings.’” The bill established “personhood beginning at the moment of fertilization,” which would directly challenge Roe v. Wade and lead to a near-total abortion ban.
The Georgia Right to Life PAC endorsed Raffensperger’s 2018 campaign for Secretary of State. Georgia Right to Life was an extreme anti-abortion organization whose principles included opposition to abortion ban exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother, as well as opposition to emergency contraception.
¶ Raffensperger Sponsored Legislation That Would Lead To A Near-Total Abortion Ban And Received An Extreme Anti-Abortion Organization’s Endorsement
¶ Raffensperger Sponsored A “Personhood Amendment” That Would Lead to A Near-Total Abortion Ban
¶ Raffensperger’s “Personhood Amendment” Recognized The “Right To Life” For All Human Beings “Beginning At The Moment Of Fertilization”
2016: Raffensperger Sponsored A Bill “Proposing A Constitutional Amendment To ‘Recognize The Paramount Right To Life Of All Human Beings At Any Stage Of Development.’” According to GPB, “While he was a state representative, Raffensperger sponsored an unsuccessful 2016 state House resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to ‘recognize the paramount right to life of all human beings at any stage of development.’” [GPB, 10/10/22]
- HR 1091 Stated That “All Human Beings […] At Any Stage Of Development” Would Be Recognized As “Persons” And Be Entitled To The “Right To Life.” According to HR 1091 from the 2015-2016 session of the Georgia General Assembly, “Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Georgia so as to provide that this state shall recognize the paramount right to life of all human beings as persons at any stage of development; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.” [HR 1091 – Georgia General Assembly, Introduced 1/20/16]
Georgia Right To Life Called Raffensperger’s “Personhood Amendment” Their “Flagship Piece Of Legislation,” And Said It Would Recognize “Personhood Beginning At The Moment Of Fertilization.” According to Georgia Right to Life, “HR 1091, the Personhood Amendment, authored by Representative Brad Raffensperger, is our flagship piece of legislation and represents the ultimate policy objective of GRTL. The Personhood Amendment would add language to the State Constitution that recognizes personhood beginning at the moment of fertilization.” [Georgia Right To Life, Archived 12/17/25]
¶ The “Personhood Amendment” Would Directly Challenge Roe V. Wade Under The 14th Amendment
Georgia Right To Life President Daniel Becker Said The “Personhood Amendment” Would Provide “A Direct Challenge To The Central Holding To Roe V. Wade” Because “(If The) Suggestion Of Personhood [Of The Preborn] Is Established, The [Abortion Rights] Case, Of Course, Collapses” Under The 14th Amendment. According to Georgia Right to Life, “‘It is time that the citizens of Georgia be able to speak decisively to this most fundamental right’ says Daniel Becker, President of Georgia Right to Life (GRTL). ‘When is a person a ‘person’ under the laws of our State and therefore entitled to protection under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution? Let’s let Georgians decide… not the state Supreme Court. I commend this bi-partisan effort to protect all of Georgia’s citizens… all the time.’ ‘Two important pro-life objectives would be effected by this amendment to our state constitution,’ says Becker. ‘It establishes and affirms in principle that Georgia is a ‘pro-life’ state that seeks to protect all human life from fertilization as a matter of constitutional law; and it provides a direct challenge to the central holding of Roe v. Wade.’ 410 U.S. 113 (1973). ‘In the Roe v. Wade decision, Justice Harry Blackmun wrote that, ‘(If the) suggestion of personhood [of the preborn] is established, the [abortion rights] case, of course, collapses, for the fetus’ right to life is then guaranteed specifically by the [14th] Amendment.’’ Becker concludes, ‘Thus, the personhood of the preborn child is the single point on which the entire debate turns.’” [Georgia Right To Life, Archived 12/17/25]
Pregnancy Justice: Anti-Abortion Advocates Sought To “Recriminalize Abortion Through Laws That Seek To Codify The Belief That Life Begins At Conception.” According to Pregnancy Justice’s Analysis for a Post-Roe America, “After the 1973 Roe decision, anti-abortion groups responded with a strategic plan to reverse the decision and recriminalize abortion through laws that seek to codify the belief that life begins at conception. Some of these criminal statutes create a new crime for causing a pregnancy loss by injuring a pregnant person, and others expand the definitions of ‘person’ or ‘another’ to include zygotes, embryos, and fetuses under existing criminal codes for murder, manslaughter, or related charges. The majority of them apply from conception or another early stage of pregnancy until birth.” [Pregnancy Justice, “Who Do Fetal Homicide Laws Protect? An Analysis For A Post-Roe America,” 8/18/22]
¶ Georgia Right To Life PAC Endorsed Raffensperger’s Secretary Of State Campaign And Touted His Support For Fetal Personhood
¶ The Georgia Right To Life PAC Endorsed Raffensperger For Secretary Of State And Touted His Quote Supporting Fetal Personhood
2018: The Georgia Right To Life PAC Endorsed Raffensperger For Secretary Of State, Quoting Him As Saying, “I Believe That Human Life And Personhood Begins At The Moment Of Fertilization And Ends At Natural Death.” According to Georgia Right to Life PAC’s Facebook, “*PLEASE SHARE* The Georgia Right to Life PAC is pleased to endorse Brad Raffensperger for Secretary of State in the Republican Primary Election on May 22, 2018. A committed pro-life advocate, Brad Raffensperger said, ‘I believe that human life and personhood begins at the moment of fertilization and ends at natural death.’ Brad Raffensperger is a dedicated community servant, serving in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2015 to 2018, is currently on the board of the Ed Isakson YMCA, is an active member and youth mentor at North Point Community Church, and was on the Johns Creek City Council for three years. As a volunteer in a ministry focused at a Gwinnett youth detention center, Brad worked with other volunteers to help mentor, minister and support incarcerated youth. Brad Raffensperger is an experienced businessperson and CEO of a Georgia corporation employing over 100 workers. A conservative who seeks to streamline government operations, Raffensperger said, ‘As our Georgia secretary of state, I will work with our governor to limit the size of government, cut wasteful regulations that impede growth, and will work to keep Georgia moving forward to bring new businesses here.’”
[Facebook, Georgia Right To Life, 5/15/18]
¶ Georgia Right To Life Opposed Exceptions For Rape, Incest, And Life Of The Mother
Georgia Right To Life Opposed Abortion Ban Exceptions For Rape Or Incest, Claiming “The Unborn Child Conceived Is No Less Human Than One Conceived Under More Favorable Conditions.” According to Georgia Right to Life PAC, “GRTL opposes abortion for pregnancy resulting from rape or incest. Whereas we understand the trauma involved in such situations, the unborn child conceived is no less human than one conceived under more favorable conditions. In the case of rape, we assert the need to educate women to seek immediate medical attention after they are victimized. Instead of the further violence of abortion, we believe women should be provided with compassionate, competent emotional and health care. In the case of incest, we stress the need to help the entire family correct the situation, which led to the pregnancy. Again, the unborn child is an innocent party and should not be destroyed as a ‘solution’ to all the complex problems involved.” [Georgia Right To Life PAC, Archived 12/16/25]
Georgia Right To Life Opposed Abortion Ban Exceptions For The Life Of The Mother, Claiming “Sound Medical Practice Would Dictate That Every Effort Be Made To Save Both Lives.” According to Georgia Right to Life PAC, “GRTL opposes abortion at any point of gestation, as it destroys a living, growing human life. In the rare case that the mother’s life is indeed endangered by a continuation of the pregnancy, sound medical practice would dictate that every effort be made to save both lives. GRTL supports an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would guarantee the right to life of all persons from the moment of fertilization until natural death.” [Georgia Right To Life PAC, Archived 12/16/25]
¶ Georgia Right To Life Opposed Emergency Contraception
Georgia Right To Life Opposed All Forms Of Emergency Contraception, Including The Morning After Pill And Forms Of The IUD. According to Georgia Right to Life PAC, “GRTL takes no position on birth control methods, which are contraceptive rather than abortive in their actions. We are opposed to those birth control methods which act as abortifacients. These could include forms of the pill which act to prevent implantation of the newly formed human into the lining of the womb; forms of the IUD, which can act the same; and prostaglandin suppository drugs, which act to cause delivery of whatever size baby the uterus contains.” [Georgia Right To Life PAC, Archived 12/16/25]