AUGUSTA, ME: APRIL 30, 2022: Former Maine governor and gubernatorial candidate Paul LePage speaks during the Maine Republican Convention at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday April 30, 2022. (Photo by Carl D.
Walsh/Portland Press Herald via Getty I As governor, LePage, who was raised as a Roman Catholic, participated in the "Hands Around The Capitol" event protesting the Supreme Court Roe v Wade decision that legalized abortion.But abortion never arose as a political issue during LePage’s two terms in office.
He’s now seeking to unseat Mills in one of a dozen or so competitive governor’s races across the country.It's a thorny topic.In Arizona, a spokesperson had to clarify remarks made by the Republican candidate for Arizona governor, Kari Lake, after she said abortions should be "rare and legal" before saying they should be "rare and safe." The spokesperson said Lake is not calling for changes to abortion laws after a judge ruled that prosecutors can enforce a near-total ban on abortions.During the debate exchange in Maine, LePage insisted he wasn’t interested in pressing for a bill to restrict or ban abortions, but lawmakers could act on their own.
Democrats currently control both chambers.Mills has stated repeatedly that she supports keeping abortions legal in Maine. "My veto pen will stand in the way of any restrictions on the right to abortion," Mills said Tuesday evening.While LePage said he supports the current law, he said he opposes taxpayer-funded abortions, meaning he opposes abortions provided through the state's MaineCare program.On a different topic, LePage was asked if he considered the election of President Joe Biden to be legitimate.