Nick Begich has consistently identified as "pro-life" and opposed abortion access, with stated exceptions for cases of rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is at risk (Anchorage Daily News, Daily Sitka Sentinel).
He has repeatedly supported the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, advocating for abortion policy to be determined at the state level rather than by Congress or through a federal mandate (USA Today, Alaska Dispatch News).
Begich opposes federal funding, including Medicaid, for abortions---even in cases of rape and incest---and has voiced opposition to pharmacy distribution of abortion medication like mifepristone (Kodiak Daily Mirror, Juneau Empire).
Recent statements emphasize local control, with Begich repeatedly saying he would not support a federal ban or a federal guarantee on abortion rights, arguing such decisions should be made by states (NBC - 2 KTUU, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner).
Potential vulnerability: In pre-primary surveys and some media reports, Begich indicated support for a national abortion ban after 12 weeks, which contradicted his debate statements emphasizing state decision-making---raising concerns about inconsistency (Anchorage Daily News, Arctic Sounder).
Begich has also expressed opposition to the use of military funds for abortion-related travel and has aligned himself with additional conservative positions, such as supporting a ban on transgender individuals in the military (Juneau Empire).
Nick Begich Expressed Agreement With Supreme Court On Abortion According to USA Today, "Begich said he 'agrees with the Supreme Court's decision,' when he was asked by Alaska Public Media if he thinks Congress should protect abortion access." [USA Today, 8/29/22]
2022: Nick Begich Expressed Opposition To Abortion And Nationwide Abortion Rights Legislation In an interview with Anchorage Daily News, Nick Begich said, "Pro-life." and, responding to whether he would vote for legislation guaranteeing nationwide abortion rights as under Roe v. Wade, he responded, "No." [Interview - Nick Begich with Anchorage Daily News, 5/29/22]
Nick Begich Held Conservative Policy Positions Opposing Gun Control And Abortion Access According to Anchorage Daily News, "Begich has said he is opposed to gun control legislation and to protecting abortion access, which remains legal in Alaska." [Anchorage Daily News, 7/14/23]
Nick Begich III Supported Local Control On Abortion Laws In 2024 According to News Miner, 'I believe in local control, and this is something that we decide locally. And no, I would not support a ban or a guarantee,' he said during an Oct. 10 forum hosted by Alaska Public Media and KTUU-TV in Anchorage. [News Miner, 11/1/24]
October 2024: Begich Opposed Federal Ban Or Guarantee On Abortion, Supported State-Level Decision According to Anchorage Daily News, "Meanwhile, Begich said that he would not support a federal ban on abortion or a federal guarantee. Echoing Trump, Begich said that it's an issue that should be decided at a state level." [Anchorage Daily News, 10/11/24]
October 2024: Begich Stated Opposition To National Abortion Ban, Supported State Control According to Juneau Empire, 'Begich said he would not support a national ban and prefers to leave the issue up to individual states. "I believe in local control, and this is something that we decide locally. And no, I would not support a ban or a guarantee," he said.' [Juneau Empire (Alaska), 10/11/24]
October 2024: Nick Begich Stated He Would Not Support A National Abortion Ban According to Nome Nugget, "Begich said he would not support a national ban and prefers to leave the issue up to individual states. 'I believe in local control, and this is something that we decide locally. And no, I would not support a ban or a guarantee,' he said." [Nome Nugget, 10/17/24]
Preprimary 2024: Nick Begich Told Anti-Abortion Group He Would Support National 12-Week Abortion Ban According to Nome Nugget, "That contradicts an answer he gave in a preprimary questionnaire submitted by an anti-abortion group. In that questionnaire, Begich said he would support a national ban on abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy." [Nome Nugget, 10/17/24]
October 2024: Nick Begich III Supported Local Control On Abortion Policy According to Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Alaska), "I believe in local control, and this is something that we decide locally. And no, I would not support a ban or a guarantee," he said during an Oct. 10 forum hosted by Alaska Public Media and KTUU-TV in Anchorage. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (Alaska), 11/1/24]
2024: Begich Stated Opposition To Federal Abortion Ban, Supported State-Level Determination According to NBC - 2 KTUU, "Begich said he supports the state's rights to restrict abortion access but would not support or vote for a federal ban. 'I do believe that this is a state's issue, and I also don't believe that if the Congress were to pass that, that it would actually be upheld by the Supreme Court,' Begich said." [NBC - 2 KTUU, 11/22/24]
2022: Nick Begich Expressed Pro-Life Position on Abortion In an interview with Alaska Dispatch News, Nick Begich responded to the question about his position on abortion by stating, "Pro-life." [Interview - Nick Begich with Alaska Dispatch News, 5/1/22]
Begich Opposed Federal Funding For Abortions, Including In Cases Of Rape And Incest According to Alaska Dispatch News, "In an interview with conservative talk show host Bob Bird in July, Begich said he opposed abortion except in cases of rape and incest. But after the Kenai forum this month, he told Bird in an interview that he would vote to disallow federal funding for abortions in cases of rape and incest." [Alaska Dispatch News, 8/5/22]
2022: Nick Begich Supported States' Rights On Abortion Legislation According to Alaska Dispatch News, "I agree with the Supreme Court's decision. Under the 10th Amendment, any powers not specifically enumerated as being within the purview of the federal government are reserved for the states. We have a constitutional amendment process by which we may modify provisions related to this specific issue." [Alaska Dispatch News, 8/7/22]
2022: Begich Advocated Pro-Life Position With Limited Exceptions According to The Daily Sitka Sentinel, "Begich's campaign manager, Truman Reed, said Begich supports allowing abortions in those cases [life of the mother, incest, rape] but opposes federal funding for them. 'Nick's position has been consistent from the start,' Reed said. 'He is prolife with allowance for the life of the mother, incest and rape. He steadfastly opposes the use of federal funds for abortion services.'" [Daily Sitka Sentinel (Alaska), 8/8/22]
2022: Begich Stance Characterized As Pro-Life With Allowance For Rape, Incest, And Life Of Mother According to Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, "Begich's campaign manager, Truman Reed, said Begich supports allowing abortions in those cases but opposes federal funding for them. 'Nick's position has been consistent from the start,' Reed said. 'He is pro-life with allowance for the life of the mother, incest and rape. He steadfastly opposes the use of federal funds for abortion services.'" [Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, 8/8/22]
August 2022: Alaska Dispatch News Reported Begich Opposed Abortion Access According to Alaska Dispatch News, "Peltola campaign manager Anton McParland said that Sweeney's departure left Alaskans who value abortion access with only one option in the race. Both Begich and Palin are opposed to the procedure, which has become part of the national discussion this year in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision removing federal protections for abortion access." [Alaska Dispatch News, 8/23/22]
2022: Alaska Dispatch News Reported Begich Opposed Abortion Except In Cases Of Rape And Incest According to Alaska Dispatch News, "Begich is part of the trend. His campaign website makes no mention of his position on abortion, but he has told conservative talk radio hosts that he opposes abortion except in cases of rape and incest." [Alaska Dispatch News, 11/2/22]
2022: Mailer Claimed Begich Supported National Abortion Ban Without Exceptions According to Peninsula Clarion, "Peltola's mailer says Begich supports a national ban on abortion with no exceptions. [...] Begich says he supports exceptions for incest, rape and the life of the mother, although he opposes allowing federal funds to be used in such instances (more than one-third of Alaskans receive health care through Medicaid)." [Peninsula Clarion (Kenai, Alaska), 11/4/22]
2022: Begich Positioned Himself As A Conservative Opposed To Gun Control And Abortion Access According to Alaska Dispatch News, "At the time, Begich pitched himself as a conservative running to the right of Young and criticized Young for occasionally working across the aisle. Begich has said he is opposed to gun control legislation and to protecting abortion access, which remains legal in Alaska." [Alaska Dispatch News, 7/13/23]
2024: Letter Writer Reported Nick Begich Supported Pro-Life Policy With Exceptions According to a letter to the editor published in Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, "the gentleman staffing the booth, adorned in a Begich ballcap and tshirt, responded that Mr. Begich is pro-life with exceptions, considering the 'Native girls and off-road system people with such exorbitant rape and incest, and he doesn't believe a 12 year old should be forced to carry.'" [Letter to the Editor - Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, 3/6/24]
2024: Begich Stated His Opposition To Military Funds For Abortion Travel And Support For Transgender Service Ban According to Juneau Empire, "In a June 6 interview with the Alaska Watchman, Begich said he opposes the use of military funds to transport soldiers to obtain an abortion and supports former President Donald Trump's ban on individuals identifying as transgender from serving in the military." [Juneau Empire (Alaska), 6/2/24]
June 2024: Nick Begich Stated His Opposition To Using Military Funds For Abortion Travel And Supported Trump Military Transgender Ban According to Juneau Empire, "In a June 6 interview with the Alaska Watchman, Begich said he opposes the use of military funds to transport soldiers to obtain an abortion and supports former President Donald Trump's ban on individuals identifying as transgender from serving in the military." [Juneau Empire (Alaska), 6/19/24]
2024: Nick Begich Stated Support For Allowing States To Restrict Abortion, Opposed Medicaid Funding, And Opposed Pharmacy Distribution Of Mifepristone According to Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, "Republican candidate Nick Begich has said that while he supports the idea of allowing states to restrict abortion at a local level, he also would eliminate Medicaid funding for the practice and stop pharmacies from distributing mifepristone, a drug used in many abortions." [Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, 8/5/24]
2024: Begich Supported Allowing States To Restrict Abortion And Opposed Medicaid Funding And Mifepristone Dispensing According to Daily Sitka Sentinel (Alaska), "Republican candidate Nick Begich has said that while he supports the idea of allowing states to restrict abortion at a local level, he also would eliminate Medicaid funding for the practice and stop pharmacies from distributing mifepristone, a drug used in many abortions." [Daily Sitka Sentinel (Alaska), 8/5/24]
2024: Nick Begich Opposed Medicaid Funding For Abortion And The Distribution Of Mifepristone By Pharmacies According to Juneau Empire, "Republican candidate Nick Begich has said that while he supports the idea of allowing states to restrict abortion at a local level, he also would eliminate Medicaid funding for the practice and stop pharmacies from distributing mifepristone, a drug used in many abortions." [Juneau Empire, 8/5/24]
2024: Begich Supported Restricting Medicaid Funding And Pharmacy Distribution Of Abortion Medication According to Kodiak Daily Mirror (Alaska), "Republican candidate Nick Begich has said that while he supports the idea of allowing states to restrict abortion at a local level, he also would eliminate Medicaid funding for the practice and stop pharmacies from distributing mifepristone, a drug used in many abortions." [Kodiak Daily Mirror (Alaska), 8/6/24]
2024: Pro-Peltola Group Targeted Begich For His Opposition To Abortion Access According to Anchorage Daily News, "Jim Lottsfledt, a political consultant working for the group called Vote Alaska Before Party, said the group wanted to highlight the record of all candidates who oppose abortion access, including Dahlstrom, Begich and Heikes." [Anchorage Daily News, 8/6/24]
2024: Nick Begich Supported Eliminating Medicaid Funding For Abortion And Restricting Mifepristone Distribution According to Nome Nugget (Alaska), "Republican candidate Nick Begich has said that while he supports the idea of allowing states to restrict abortion at a local level, he also would eliminate Medicaid funding for the practice and stop pharmacies from distributing mifepristone, a drug used in many abortions." [Nome Nugget (Alaska), 8/8/24]
2024: Anchorage Daily News Reported Begich Opposed Abortion And Medication Abortion Drug Access According to Anchorage Daily News, "Both Begich and Dahlstrom have said they are opposed to abortion but that the issue should be left up to individual states. Begich has also said he is opposed to making mifepristone, a drug used in medication abortions, available at pharmacies." [Anchorage Daily News, 8/11/24]
2024: Begich And Dahlstrom Supported National Abortion Ban After 12 Weeks According to Arctic Sounder, "Both say they will support a national ban on abortions after 12 weeks of gestation; both say they will support limits on the rights of transgender children." [Arctic Sounder, 8/22/24]
2024: Begich Aligned Himself With Trump And Supported 12-Week Abortion Ban According to Bristol Bay Times & Dutch Harbor Fisherman, "On paper, Begich and Dahlstrom have positioned themselves similarly, aligning themselves with Trump and the right wing of their party. Both say they will support a national ban on abortions after 12 weeks of gestation; both say they will support limits on the rights of transgender children." [Bristol Bay Times & Dutch Harbor Fisherman (Anchorage, Alaska), 8/22/24]
2024: Nick Begich Opposed National Ban On Abortion And Supported State-Level Decision-Making According to NBC - 2 KTUU (Anchorage, Alaska), 'While Begich said he would not support a national abortion ban, and believes states should decide restrictions [...] "I don't think that people in Alaska want folks in DC deciding this issue," Begich said. "They're thousands of miles away from us. We can make our own decisions here in the state of Alaska, and when we do, we do a great job of making those decisions."' [NBC - 2 KTUU (Anchorage, Alaska), 10/11/24]
July 2024: Nick Begich Stated Support For National Abortion Ban After 12th Week In Candidate Questionnaire According to Arctic Sounder, "Begich's answer was at odds with a candidate questionnaire he answered in July from an Alaska anti-abortion group. In that questionnaire, he said that he would support a national abortion ban after the 12th week of pregnancy." [Arctic Sounder, 10/17/24]
2024: Begich Aligned Himself With Trump And Supported National Abortion Ban After 12 Weeks According to Anchorage Daily News, "On paper, Begich and Dahlstrom have positioned themselves similarly, aligning themselves with Trump and the right wing of their party. Both say they will support a national ban on abortions after 12 weeks of gestation; both say they will support limits on the rights of transgender children." [Anchorage Daily News, 8/17/24]
Preprimary: Begich Contradicted Abortion Stance Between Survey And Debate According to Juneau Empire, 'That contradicts an answer he gave in a preprimary questionnaire submitted by an anti-abortion group. In that questionnaire, Begich said he would support a national ban on abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy.' [Juneau Empire (Alaska), 10/11/24]
2022: Begich Did Not Respond To Inquiry About Abortion Position According to Alaska Dispatch News, "A recent message to his campaign manager seeking to clarify his positions on abortion access went unanswered." [Alaska Dispatch News, 11/2/22]
2024: Nick Begich Opposed Use Of Military Funds For Abortion-Related Travel According to Juneau Empire, "In a June 6 interview with the Alaska Watchman, Begich said he opposes the use of military funds to transport soldiers to obtain an abortion and supports former President Donald Trump's ban on individuals identifying as transgender from serving in the military." [Juneau Empire, 6/14/24]
2022: Nick Begich Supported State-Level Decision-Making After Supreme Court Abortion Ruling In an interview with Anchorage Daily News, Nick Begich said, "With the Supreme Court set to return the issue of abortion to the states, each state will have the opportunity to determine the manner of such support." [Interview - Nick Begich with Anchorage Daily News, 5/29/22]
October 2024: Begich Opposed Federal Abortion Ban And National Guarantee According to Anchorage Daily News, "Begich said that he would not support a federal ban on abortion or a federal guarantee. Echoing Trump, Begich said that it s an issue that should be decided at a state level. 'I don t think that people in Alaska want folks in D.C. deciding this issue for them. They re thousands of miles away from us,' he said." [Anchorage Daily News, 10/11/24]
October 2024: Begich Opposed Both Federal Abortion Ban And Federal Guarantee According to Anchorage Daily News, "Meanwhile, Begich said that he would not support a federal ban on abortion or a federal guarantee. Echoing Trump, Begich said that it's an issue that should be decided at a state level." [Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), 10/11/24]
2024: Nick Begich Declined To Support Federal Ban Or Guarantee On Abortion According to Bristol Bay Times & Dutch Harbor Fisherman, "Meanwhile, Begich said that he would not support a federal ban on abortion or a federal guarantee. Echoing Trump, Begich said that it's an issue that should be decided at a state level." [Bristol Bay Times & Dutch Harbor Fisherman, 10/17/24]
October 2024: Nick Begich Opposed Federal Abortion Ban Or Guarantee, Favors State-Level Decision According to Arctic Sounder, "Begich said that he would not support a federal ban on abortion or a federal guarantee. Echoing Trump, Begich said that it's an issue that should be decided at a state level." [Arctic Sounder, 10/17/24]
2022: Nick Begich Said States Should Determine Support for Forced Births In an interview with Alaska Dispatch News, Nick Begich said, "With the Supreme Court set to return the issue of abortion to the states, each state will have the opportunity to determine the manner of such support." [Interview - Nick Begich with Alaska Dispatch News, 5/1/22]
July 2024: Begich Indicated Support For National Abortion Ban After 12th Week In Questionnaire According to Anchorage Daily News, "In that questionnaire, he said that he would support a national abortion ban after the 12th week of pregnancy." [Anchorage Daily News, 10/11/24]
July 2024: Nick Begich Indicated Support For National 12-Week Abortion Ban In Questionnaire According to Bristol Bay Times & Dutch Harbor Fisherman, "However, Begich's answer was at odds with a candidate questionnaire he answered in July from an Alaska anti-abortion group. In that questionnaire, he said that he would support a national abortion ban after the 12th week of pregnancy." [Bristol Bay Times & Dutch Harbor Fisherman, 10/17/24]
May 2022: Nick Begich Supported Overturning Roe V. Wade In Draft Supreme Court Decision According to Juneau Empire, '"I believe the draft opinion is a sound constitutional decision," Begich said.' [Juneau Empire (Alaska), 5/17/22]
2022: Begich Supported Supreme Court Decision Allowing States To Ban Abortion According to The Daily Sitka Sentinel, "Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich say they support the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that allows states to ban the practice and that they oppose congressional efforts to guarantee abortion rights." [Daily Sitka Sentinel (Alaska), 8/8/22]
2022: Begich Supported Supreme Court Decision Allowing States To Ban Abortion According to Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, "Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich say they support the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that allows states to ban the practice and that they oppose congressional efforts to guarantee abortion rights." [Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, 8/8/22]
2022: Nick Begich Stated He Would Vote Against Federal Legislation Guaranteeing Abortion Rights Similar to Roe v. Wade In an interview with Alaska Dispatch News, Nick Begich stated, regarding hypothetical legislation to guarantee abortion rights: "No." [Interview - Nick Begich with Alaska Dispatch News, 5/1/22]
July 2024: Begich Indicated Support For National Abortion Ban After 12 Weeks In Questionnaire According to Anchorage Daily News, "Begich s answer was at odds with a candidate questionnaire he answered in July from an Alaska anti-abortion group. In that questionnaire, he said that he would support a national abortion ban after the 12th week of pregnancy." [Anchorage Daily News, 10/11/24]
July 2024: Begich Indicated Support For National Abortion Ban After 12 Weeks In Candidate Questionnaire According to Anchorage Daily News, "However, Begich's answer was at odds with a candidate questionnaire he answered in July from an Alaska anti-abortion group. In that questionnaire, he said that he would support a national abortion ban after the 12th week of pregnancy." [Anchorage Daily News (Alaska), 10/11/24]
2022: Begich Opposed Federal Medicaid Funding For Most Abortions In Congress According to The Daily Sitka Sentinel, "Both [Palin and Begich] also say they would vote to end federal Medicaid funding that pays for abortion services in cases of rape, incest or when a woman's life is endangered by her pregnancy." [Daily Sitka Sentinel (Alaska), 8/8/22]
2022: Begich Stated Opposition To The Current Version Of The Hyde Amendment Covering Abortion Exceptions According to The Daily Sitka Sentinel, "in a Wednesday appearance on a radio show hosted by Alaskan Independence Party chairman Bob Bird, Begich said he no longer supports the current version of the federal Hyde Amendment, which allows federal funding for Medicaid to pay for abortion services in cases of rape, incest, or if a woman's life is endangered by pregnancy." [Daily Sitka Sentinel (Alaska), 8/8/22]
2022: Begich Opposed Federal Funding For Abortion Services, Including Medicaid Exception Cases According to Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, "Both [Palin and Begich] also say they would vote to end federal Medicaid funding that pays for abortion services in cases of rape, incest or when a woman's life is endangered by her pregnancy." [Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, 8/8/22]
August 2022: Begich No Longer Supported Federal Hyde Amendment As Written According to Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, "Begich did not answer a questionnaire, but in a Wednesday appearance on a radio show hosted by Alaskan Independence Party chairman Bob Bird, Begich said he no longer supports the current version of the federal Hyde Amendment, which allows federal funding for Medicaid to pay for abortion services in cases of rape, incest, or if a woman's life is endangered by pregnancy." [Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, 8/8/22]