The policy differences on abortion rights, Supreme Court confirmations and gun rights between Alaska’s three candidates for U.S. Senate were clear during Thursday's debate.
On abortion, Tshibaka said she supports a national ban that takes effect “sometime in the second trimester.” She said she also supports making birth control available without prescriptions, through the mail.
Murkowksi said she supports turning the abortion rights from the Roe v. Wade case, which the Supreme Court recently overturned, into law. But with some limits, such as letting medical providers with personal objections opt out and limiting the use of federal funds for abortions. “I think it needs to be up to the discretion of the individual, not anyone else,” she said. “I think it has to be a very difficult decision. And I think we need to let people make those decisions on their own.
On the Senate’s process for confirming nominees to the Supreme Court, Murkowski said it’s become an exercise in partisan rubber-stamping and obstruction. She wants senators to actually examine the nominees’ qualifications.