¶ Overview
Brad Sherman was an out-of-touch anti-abortion extremist who branded himself as the “most pro-life” candidate in the Iowa gubernatorial race. He pledged he would not waver in opposing abortion and opposed reproductive rights.
In 2023, Sherman voted for a restrictive six-week abortion ban in Iowa. Brad Sherman dismissed abortion as unrelated to reproductive rights and promoted abstinence-only views, arguing people should simply refrain from having sex.
Brad Sherman helped create and lead anti-abortion groups, including an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center, and aligned his campaign with prominent anti-abortion organizations.
¶ Brad Sherman Cast Himself As The Most Aggressive Anti-Abortion Candidate In Iowa’s Gubernatorial Race
¶ Sherman Declared Himself The Most Anti-Abortion Candidate And Reaffirmed Longstanding Opposition To Abortion
2025: Sherman Declared He Was The “Most Pro-Life” Candidate. According to Sherman’s Twitter, “I am the most pro-life candidate in this race. If elected, I promise to continue being a staunch defender of life, just as I have been doing my entire career.”
[Twitter, @SHermanForIowa, 10/14/25]
2025 Website: Sherman Declared He Would Not Waver In His Pledge To Oppose Abortion. According to the Sherman For Iowa Campaign Website, “The most fundamental right of all is the right to life. Without life, the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness, or any other right, becomes irrelevant. The disregard for human life we see in our world is disturbing. We have made progress in the battle to protect the life of the unborn and we must continue that fight. On the other end of life’s spectrum, we are seeing an increasing disregard for the lives of the elderly. With several states legalizing medically assisted suicide, euthanasia is just a short slide down the slippery slope. Brad Sherman believes every person has intrinsic value because they are created in the image of God, and he will not waver in the fight to protect life.” [Sherman For Iowa Campaign Website, Issues, Archived 11/19/25]
2014: Sherman Positioned Himself As Unyielding In His Opposition To Abortion And Promised He Would Not Waver. According to Sherman’s Facebook, “91% of the abortion minded women who visit our clinics choose life for their baby and many choose eternal life after hearing the gospel. Give the gift of life this Christmas! Consider making end-of-year gift to Informed Choice of Iowa Medical Clinics. (www.informedchoiceia.org)”
[Facebook, Brad Sherman, 12/10/14]
¶ Brad Sherman Voted For An Extreme Six-Week Abortion Ban And Reinforced That Agenda Through Abstinence-Only Rhetoric And Support For Anti-Abortion Crisis Pregnancy Centers
¶ Brad Sherman Voted For A Six-Week Abortion Ban That Took Effect Before Many Knew They Were Pregnant
July 2023: Brad Sherman Voted In Favor Of HF 732, A Six-Week Abortion Ban That Prohibited Most Abortions Once Embryonic Cardiac Activity Is Detected. In July 2023, according to the Iowa Legislature, Sherman voted for House File 732, “prohibiting and requiring certain actions relating to abortion involving the detection of a fetal heartbeat, and including effective date provisions.” HF 732 passed the Iowa House 56 to 34 during a special legislative session, cleared the Iowa Senate 32 to 17, and was signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds. [Iowa Legislature – House File 732; Iowa House Of Representatives, 7/11/23]
¶ Sherman Said Those Concerned About Abortion Rights Have The Opportunity To Simply Refrain From Having Sex
2023: Sherman Said People Should Not Have Sex If They Were Not Prepared To Have A Baby And Dismissed Abortion As A Reproductive Right. According to an Iowa House floor speech Sherman said, “And then I’ve heard other points. This one was, one point said, ‘Don’t force women to have a baby. I demand reproductive freedom and reproductive rights.’ All right, then. I think I stand here today in favor and proclaiming that everyone is free not to have sex. If they’re not prepared to have a baby, they shouldn’t have sex, if they’re that concerned about it. I will stand for everyone’s right to practice abstinence. Abortion has little if anything to do with reproductive rights—it’s after the fact. When a male and a female have sexual relations resulting in a pregnancy, reproduction has already happened. It sounds to me like a lot of people need to review the story of the birds and the bees.” [Brad Sherman Speech – Iowa legislature Special Session, 7/11/23] (VIDEO)
2023: Sherman Said Those Concerned About Abortion Rights Have The Opportunity To Simply Refrain From Having Sex. According to the Iowa Starting Line, “Rep. Brad Sherman has a simple solution for people who want control over their own bodies: Don’t have sex! The Williamsburg Republican, who earlier this year introduced legislation to ban gay marriage, suggested people should simply not have sexual relations during Tuesday’s Iowa House debate on a bill to severely limit reproductive rights in Iowa. This was Sherman’s response to fellow legislators and protestors who pushed back on Iowa’s new abortion ban, which will be signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday and would prohibit nearly all abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. ‘Everyone is free not to have sex. Maybe they shouldn’t have sex; it’s that simple. I will stand for everyone’s rights to practice abstinence,’ Sherman said. ‘Abortion has little to anything to do with reproductive rights. In fact, when a male and female have sexual relations resulting in a pregnancy, reproduction has already happened.’” [Iowa Starting Line, 7/12/23]
¶ Sherman Pointed To His Long Ministry Career And Touted Creating Anti-Abortion Groups, Including An Anti-Abortion Crisis Pregnancy Center
¶ Sherman Promoted His Ministry Record And His Senior Roles In Anti-Abortion Groups, Including The Anti-Abortion Informed Choices Medical Clinics
2025 Website: Sherman Pointed To His Long Ministry Career And Said He Helped Form Anti-Abortion Groups And Led “Informed Choices Medical Clinics.” According to the Sherman For Iowa Campaign Website, “Brad began ministry and leadership training in 1975, was ordained in 1979, and has faithfully served in spiritual and community leadership since. […] He played a key role in forming various pro-life organizations and was a co-founder of Informed Choices Medical Clinics, where he served as president and board chair for ten years. Additionally, Brad has authored articles and books on biblical topics and conducted biblical worldview seminars across the Midwest, emphasizing America’s founding principles.” [Sherman For Iowa Campaign Website, Archived 11/19/25]
- 2024: Researchers Classified Sherman’s Organization, “Informed Choices Medical Clinics” As An Anti-Abortion Crisis Pregnancy Center Rather Than A Comprehensive Health Provider. According to Little Village, “The researchers behind the online Crisis Pregnancy Center Map identify 42 CPCs in Iowa, which they define as ‘nonprofit organizations with a primary aim of keeping women from having an abortion.’ They include: Agape Pregnancy Center, Alpha Women’s Center, Alternatives Pregnancy Center, Birthright, Her Health Women’s Center, Informed Choices Medical Clinics, InnerVisions HealthCare, LC Clinic, The Pregnancy Center, Cradle of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center.” [Little Village, 11/15/24]
¶ Brad Sherman Aligned Himself With Prominent Anti-Abortion Organizations
¶ Brad Sherman Was Aligned With Iowa Right To Life And The Coalition Of Pro-Life Leaders
2025: Sherman Promoted His Campaign At The Iowa State Fair Alongside Iowa Right To Life And The Coalition Of Pro-Life Leaders. According to Carole Sherman’s Facebook, “A few snapshots of being at opening day at the Iowa Stare Fair. Iowa Right to Life , Jacob Hall with The Iowa Standard, Turning Point USA and being with family❤️ We should have taken lots more pics. Was a fun day!!”
[Facebook, Carole Sherman, 8/8/25]