The four-term attorney General is running as a Democrat for governor in a conservative Deep South State. He is a member of the national party that has opposed conservatives in recent times to protect a woman’s choice to have an abortion. He needs to win the support of moderate conservatives in November to be able to win. He is also pro-life. In his current role as state attorney general, he defends Mississippi’s “heartbeat” bill, one of the strictest anti-abortion bans in the country. U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves heard oral arguments in the case on Tuesday. Hood’s attorneys are preparing and implementing a defense of state law in court. Anything Hood says about the issue publicly while the federal case is pending may jeopardize state’s case. The U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted the law differently in Southern states like Mississippi. Hood made some of his strongest public statements about abortion this election cycle. Hood stated that the Bible says that God knows us inside the womb (Jeremiah 1:14-5). That’s why I am firmly pro-life in a statement to Mississippi Today Tuesday afternoon. “I have defended every law protecting the unborn in court, including the 15-week ban, and I will defend the laws of Mississippi,” Hood said to Mississippi Today on Tuesday afternoon. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves is the GOP frontrunner and has been preparing for a general election battle against Hood for many years. On Tuesday, a pro-life coalition was announced by more than 150 pastors across Mississippi. Reeves attacked Hood’s position on abortion at the Tuesday event. Reeves stated on Tuesday that he believes a candidate for public office, and anyone who holds a public office that is pro-life, should be allowed to drive from Houston to Jackson to defend unborn babies. The people of Mississippi need elected officials that stand for the values they hold dear. Mississippi is pro-life. We need a governor who will stand up for what they believe in. Hood made this defense in a statement to Mississippi Today after Tuesday’s Reeves event. Hood stated that it was disgusting to see politicians trying to use the divisive issue to convince good church-going people that they or a particular party can make a difference on this matter. Hood stated that the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately decide the issue and not a state legislator. Robert Foster and Bill Waller Jr. have also focused on the issue this week on the campaign trail. Waller posted this tweet: “We have a moral duty to protect human lives.” The Constitution grants us the right to life. Importantly, life is a gift of God that we shouldn’t forsake. Foster said Tuesday that as governor, I will continue to stand firm and fight for the rights of the unborn. Recent precedent is the recent victory of a prolife Democrat in the Deep South governor’s race. Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards was elected four years ago. John Bel Edwards was a pro-life candidate and defeated David Vitter, a former GOP congressman. Edwards, during his term as governor signed a 15-week ban on abortion, similar to the law Mississippi passed in 2018. Edwards indicated his willingness to sign the “heartbeat bill,” which would prohibit abortions at six weeks of pregnancy. Although Mississippi has a path for a prolife Democrat, Mississippi progressives have already expressed their disapproval for Democratic statewide candidates in 2019 who support conservative attempts to ban abortion. Jay Hughes, a Democratic candidate as lieutenant governor and state representative, voted in favor of the heartbeat bill in January. He was quickly rebuffed by progressives. The Democratic Party’s heart is made up of black women. What is it going to take for them become the party’s face? Laurie Bertram Roberts (executive director of the Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund) stated that Jim Hood wants to play what he believes is a politically smart game. He is willing to be on both sides and non-committal in order to get more votes. “What Hood fails to understand is that this is not the right time and that Mississippians have already decided in 2011. Mississippians said no. Mississippians voted no to the so-called personhood initiative. It would have changed the state constitution to make it clear that life begins at conception. Eight conservative states, including Mississippi have already passed the “heartbeat” legislation. Several other governors from other states have also pledged to support similar efforts. Conservatives want to bring abortion back before America’s Supreme Court. They feel that this Court is more conservative than the two Trump appointments. To support this work, you can make a regular donation to us today as part of the Spring Member Drive.