© 2024 WNMU-FM
Upper Great Lakes News, Music, and Arts & Culture
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Wisconsin Republican Michels walks back abortion pledge

Tim Michels points at the crowd after winning the republican primary for governor Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, in Waukesha, Wis. Angela Major/WPR
Angela Major
/
Wisconsin Public Radio
Tim Michels points at the crowd after winning the republican primary for governor Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, in Waukesha, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

MADISON, WI (AP)— The Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor is suggesting he does not support arresting doctors under the state's near total ban on abortions.

Tim Michels is locked in a tight race with Democratic Governor Tony Evers, with abortion a major issue.

Michels' position on abortion has been changing. He used to back the state's near total ban, but now he supports exceptions for pregnancies arising from rape and incest. And at a Tuesday campaign appearance, he said “I will never arrest a doctor.” His spokesperson later walked back his comment, saying Michels is not a district attorney “or beat cop arresting anyone.”

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.