¶ Overview
Husted was a threat to abortion rights in Ohio and actively opposed Ohio’s reproductive rights amendment. Husted supported Ohio’s heartbeat bill that lacked exceptions. Husted attacked mifepristone and falsely claimed that it was unsafe. Husted touted that he “consistently backed the work of Ohio Right to Life.”
¶ Husted Was An Anti-Abortion Extremist
¶ Husted Supported Abortion Restrictions
¶ Husted Supported Ohio’s Heartbeat Bill
Headline: Husted: Abortion Ban Fits In Kids Agenda [Columbus Dispatch, 5/22/19]
Husted Claimed That Ohio’s “Heart Beat” Bill Wouldn’t Be Against The State Business Interests. According to the Columbus Dispatch, “While Georgia and Alabama face boycotts stemming from strict new abortion laws, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted does not anticipate Ohio's ‘heartbeat’ abortion ban working against state business interests.” [Columbus Dispatch, 5/22/19]
Husted Supported Ohio’s Heartbeat Bill That Had No Exceptions. According to MeidasTouch News, “In 2019, Husted backed a bill in Ohio to ban all abortions with no exception for rape or incest once a ‘fetal heartbeat’ is detected, usually around five to six weeks. Most women do not know they are pregnant until between eight and 15 weeks. The bill was vetoed by then-Governor John Kasich because of its lack of exceptions for rape and incest, and an attempt to override the veto failed.” [MeidasTouch News, 11/6/25]
¶ Husted Supported Full Abortion Ban
Husted Claimed That He Supported A Total Abortion Ban “In All Cases.” According to MeidasTouch News, “In 2002, while he was running to keep his seat in the Ohio legislature, Husted publicly supported a total ban on abortion in the state ‘in all cases,’ including no exception to save the life of the mother.” [MeidasTouch News, 11/6/25]
¶ Husted Attacked Mifepristone
¶ Husted Claimed That Mifepristone Was Unsafe
[AUDIO] Husted Claimed That There Were Abortion Drugs That Were Unsafe And That It Was A “Very Important Issue” For Him. “HOST: I want to ask you a question. I want to actually make a statement, but I'll ask the question with it. You joined 50 of your Republican colleagues in the Senate earlier this month in sending a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA asking them to suspend distribution of the abortion drug mifepristone and the new generic that has been issued. This is an important issue to you. HUSTED: Yeah, it's a very important issue to me. For those of you that don't know about my background, which is probably most most of your listeners, I started out life in a foster home. My birth mother faced a lot of pressure to have an abortion. Instead, she had an adoption. And that's the only reason I'm here because of her courage. And so the sanctity of life and in helping to support the you know, the children born and unborn is is an important issue to me. And a lot of the abortion drugs that are out there are not safe for women. Misleading information out there. And we need to make sure that that we have all the facts.” [Washington Watch With Tony Perkins, 10/23/25]
Husted Falsely Claimed That Abortion Drugs Were Unsafe. According to MeidasTouch News, “Two weeks ago, Husted called on the FDA to ban the abortion pill mifepristone when asked about its use, falsely claiming, ‘A lot of the abortion drugs that are out there are not safe for women, misleading information out there, and we need to make sure that [women] have all the facts.’ Mifepristone has been approved for use by the FDA for over 20 years. Every major study done on mifepristone has found it to be completely safe for women in the early stages of pregnancy.” [MeidasTouch News, 11/6/25]
¶ Husted Signed Onto A Letter Calling For Restrictions On Abortion Pills
Headline: Nearly All GOP Senators Urge The FDA To Restrict Abortion Pills [NOTUS, 10/9/25]
51 Republican Senators Signed Onto A Letter That Called On HHS And FDA To Reconsider The Approval Of A Generic Version Of Mifepristone. According to a press release from Senator John Cornyn, “U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today joined 50 of his Senate Republican colleagues in a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary urging HHS and FDA to reconsider the approval of a generic version of mifepristone, the most prevalent abortion pill on the market, due to serious health risks to both unborn children and expecting mothers as well as concerns with the drug’s potential misusage in states with pro-life laws.” [Press Release – Senator John Cornyn, 10/9/25]
- Husted Signed Onto A Letter Urging For Mifepristone To Be Pulled Off The Market And The Letter Claimed That Abortion Drugs Were “Degrading Pro-Life Laws At The State Level.” According to MeidasTouch, “On October 9th, Husted signed on to a letter from Republican Senators to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Martin Makary urging them to pull mifepristone off the market. The letter, which was written by Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham, Chuck Grassley, and Josh Hawley, argued that access to mifepristone was ‘degrading pro-life laws at the state level.’” [MeidasTouch News, 11/6/25]
The Senators Claimed That Abortion Pills Should Only Be Available In Person And Claimed That The Abortion Pills Were An “Imminent Hazard.” According to NOTUS, “The senators asked the FDA to suspend approval of generic versions of mifepristone until the safety review is conducted, make abortion pills available only in person, ‘suspend the distribution’ of abortion pills as an ‘imminent hazard,’ and withdraw the agency’s guidance allowing pharmacies to sell the pills — all as a ‘starting point.’” [NOTUS, 10/9/25]
- The Letter Called For Mifepristone To Be Labeled As An “Imminent Hazard.” According to MeidasTouch News, “Husted's HHS letter demanded that the FDA reinstate in-person dispensing requirements for abortion pills, suspend approval of generic versions of mifepristone, and label mifepristone as an ‘imminent hazard’ suspending its distribution. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2024 unanimously ruled against an anti-choice organization that sought similar nationwide bans on abortion pills because of so-called safety concerns.” [MeidasTouch News, 11/6/25]
The Letter Claimed That “Unrestricted Access To Abortion Pills Is Systematically Undermining States’ Rights.” According to MeidasTouch News, “‘Unrestricted access to abortion pills is systematically undermining states’ rights and violating pro-life state laws. Every month, thousands of abortion drugs are shipped into states that have otherwise limited access to abortion after Dobbs,’ Husted's letter read.” [MeidasTouch News, 11/6/25]
- The Letter Claimed That The “Unrestricted Access To Abortion Pills” Would Undermine States’ Rights And Violate Pro-Life State Laws. According to a press release from Senator John Cornyn, “‘Unrestricted access to abortion pills is systematically undermining states’ rights and violating pro-life state laws. Every month, thousands of abortion drugs are shipped into states that have otherwise limited access to abortion after Dobbs, degrading pro-life laws at the state level across the country,’ the lawmakers continued.” [Press Release – Senator John Cornyn, 10/9/25]
¶ Husted Supported Permanently Codifying The Hyde Amendment
¶ Husted Introduced A Bill That Would Make The Hyde Amendment Permanent
Husted Introduced The “No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion And Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act Of 2025” Which Would Make The Hyde Amendment Permanent. According to a press release from Senator Jon Husted, “Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) joined Sen. Roger Wicker’s (R-Miss) No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2025. The bill would make permanent the Hyde Amendment, which prevents taxpayer dollars from funding abortions. Current policies require an annual vote by Congress to ensure the Hyde Amendment continues.” [Press Release – Senator Jon Husted, 5/8/25]
Husted Claimed That The Hyde Amendment “Saved Lives.” According to a press release form Senator Jon Husted, “‘For decades, the Hyde Amendment has saved lives and ensured that taxpayers don’t have to fund abortions. Yet pro-abortion Democrats fight to remove this policy every year. I’m supporting this bill to make sure American taxpayers with sincere moral and religious pro-life beliefs are never forced to fund abortion. I’ll continue to back solutions to support mothers and families and protect unborn children,’ said Husted.” [Press Release – Senator Jon Husted, 5/8/25]
¶ SBA Pro-Life America Praised Husted’s Effort To Codify The Hyde Amendment
SBA Pro-Life America Praised Husted’s Effort To Codify The Hyde Amendment. SBA Pro-Life America posted, “Grateful to see the pro-life priorities of the newest member of the U.S. Senate @SenJonHusted as he pushes back on Dem efforts to force Americans to fund abortions.” [Twitter, @sbaprolife, 5/9/25]
¶ Husted Opposed Enshrining Abortion Protections
¶ Husted Opposed Issue 1 Which Enshrined Abortion Rights In The Ohio Constitution
Husted Was An Opponent Of Issue 1 Which Enshrined Abortion Rights In The Ohio Constitution. According to the Statehouse News Bureau, “ Questions have been raised about what would happen to that law if this amendment passes. Opponents of the amendment have raised it over and over in ads, debates and interviews. Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, an Issue 1 opponent, told reporters it would negate that law.” [Statehouse News Bureau, 10/17/25]
¶ Husted Supported “Pro-Life” Organizations
Husted Called Himself A “Pro-Life” Leader And Claimed That He Had “Consistently Backed The Work Of Ohio Right To Life.” According to JonHusted.Com, “ Jon has been a steadfast pro-life leader. Having been adopted as a child, Jon’s own story inspired his unwavering support for the unborn. He has consistently backed the work of Ohio Right to Life and earned their endorsement during every race. As House Speaker, he also championed initiatives to encourage adoption in Ohio by pairing children with healthy families.” [JonHusted.Com via Wayback Machine, accessed 12/22/25]