The Poynter Institute Menu Donate State Editions * California * Florida * Iowa * Michigan * New Hampshire * New York * North Carolina * Pennsylvania * Texas * West Virginia * Wisconsin Issues * All Issues * Online hoaxes * Coronavirus * Health Care * Immigration * Extremism * Taxes * Marijuana * Environment * Crime * Guns * Foreign Policy * LGBTQ+ People * Joe Biden * Kamala Harris * Donald Trump * Mitch McConnell * Hakeem Jeffries * Ron DeSantis Media * PunditFact * Tucker Carlson * Sean Hannity * Rachel Maddow * Bloggers * PolitiFact Videos Campaigns * 2024 Elections Truth-o-Meter * True * Mostly True * Half True * Mostly False * False * Pants on Fire Promises * Biden Promise Tracker * Trump-O-Meter * Obameter * Latest Promises About Us * Our Process * Our Staff * En Español * Who pays for PolitiFact? * Advertise with Us * Suggest a Fact-check * Corrections and Updates * Newsletters Donate #### Follow us The Facts Newsletter Sign up English Español ### Get PolitiFact in your inbox. * Weekly Email Newsletter * Daily Email Newsletter Your Email Address Sign Up ![](\\" independentgroup___________________45/6e8eaa01c8783c19e21ea6683a79bb73.jpg\\") ![](\\" independentgroup___________________45/33071b2c12b57ccdcd988fc4bd67ba30.jpg\\") Restoration PAC stated on September 28, 2022 in Digital ad: Says Mandela Barnes supports killing “preemies” – “infants born prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy\" ![\\"true\\"](\\" ![\\"pants- fire\\"](\\" * Abortion * Elections * Health Care * Wisconsin * Restoration PAC ![\\"Anti- abortion](\\" Anti-abortion and abortion-rights protesters gather June 24, 2022, outside the Supreme Court in Washington. (AP) ![\\"Madeline](\\" By Madeline Heim October 4, 2022 # Group twists Barnes\' abortion rights position beyond recognition #### If Your Time is short * The very nature of the word \"preemie\" implies that the baby has already been born. There’s no evidence that Barnes supports killing babies who have already been born. * The group conflates Barnes’ support of codifying Roe v. Wade with supporting abortion \"up until time of birth.\" * That’s inaccurate — even when Roe was the law of the land, there were stricter gestational limits on the procedure in Wisconsin and elsewhere, that allowed only for abortions later in pregnancy in rare health crises. See the sources for this fact-check The tight, closely watched race for one of Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate seats is growing increasingly bitter as Election Day nears. Ads attacking Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, or attacking his Democratic challenger, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, seem to be everywhere. Indeed, an especially vivid one even popped up Sept. 28 via Google on the PolitiFact Wisconsin website. The ad was from Restoration PAC, a conservative group based in Downers Grove, Illinois. The digital ad presents a mock dictionary definition. \"Preemie,\" it reads. \"An infant born prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy that Mandela Barnes supports killing.\" The claim is pretty outrageous — but its underpinnings draw on a familiar attack on Democrats who support abortion rights. Let’s break it down. Support for Roe v. Wade isn’t the same as supporting abortion until birth When asked for evidence to support the claim, Restoration PAC spokesperson Dan Curry clarified what it is really about: Barnes’ stance on abortion. (The ad links to a webpage which says the U.S. allows \"on-demand\" abortion \"thanks to extreme abortion-on-demand Democrats like Joe Biden and Mandela Barnes.\" Barnes, of course, lives in Wisconsin, where abortion is currently banned in nearly every case.) Curry wrote that the lieutenant governor supports \"partial-birth abortions\" — a political phrase referring to a rarely used abortion procedure — and \"abortions up until time of birth.\" The use of the word \"preemie,\" then, is wrong. \"Preemie\" is a nickname for babies born prematurely, more than three weeks before their due date. That key word? Born — meaning an abortion was not performed. The ad itself even used the word \"born.\" On its face, the statement makes it sound like Barnes supports killing these infants after they’ve been born, which would be homicide. In the United States, about 1 in 10 infants per year is born prematurely. #### Featured Fact-check ![](\\" ![](\\" Elizabeth Warren stated on August 25, 2024 in an interview “JD Vance actually sent a letter last year to the Department of Justice saying, ‘enforce the Comstock Act.’” ![\\"true\\"](\\" true/3d4df195c595a07e3fd69b5e4aab3e3c.jpg.\\") ![\\"true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Samantha Putterman • August 30, 2024 In his response, Curry wrote, \"We removed one word from our advertising to make it clear exactly which barbaric procedure we are referring to that Barnes supports.\" A request for the updated ad, or updated language, was not returned. In any case, that change alone is evidence that the original claim — which is what we are rating here — wasn’t accurate. It was wildly wrong. The broader implication, that Barnes supports abortions very late in pregnancy, is a common talking point from abortion opponents, who argue that if a person supports abortion rights, they support abortions \"up until time of birth.\" A quick aside on that phrase — it’s misinformation in itself. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, abortions at or after 21 weeks represent 1% of all abortions in the U.S. Many abortions that occur later in pregnancy are because of health crises — which Wisconsin’s abortion ban, and others, makes an exception to allow. Abortions moments before birth, as the above statement implies, do not happen. So, what is Barnes’ stance on abortion? He wants to codify Roe v. Wade, which federally protected the right to the procedure until June 24, when U.S. Supreme Court overturned it. Seeking to make Roe the law of the land is not the same as supporting abortion up until birth. Even when Roe was in place, it didn’t greenlight abortion at any time during a pregnancy. It included a viability restriction, asserting that states couldn’t impose significant restrictions on abortion access before the fetus became viable — usually around 24 weeks’ gestational age. Most states — including Wisconsin — prohibited abortion, except in medical emergencies, after viability or even earlier in the pregnancy. With the ad’s linguistic distortion aside, the underlying point is still vastly misleading when it comes to Barnes’ view. Our ruling A Restoration PAC ad claimed that Barnes supports killing \"preemies,\" or \"infants born prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy.\" There’s no evidence for the claim that Barnes would support killing babies after birth — it is a wild accusation that the group itself has, apparently, backed off on. Even read more generously, the idea that Barnes would support abortion until birth misses the mark given what he has said about the issue. We rate this claim Pants on Fire! #### Read About Our Process The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter ### Our Sources Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, \"Ron Johnson and Mandela Barnes race is a toss- up; Tony Evers holds narrow lead over Tim Michels in Marquette Poll,\" Sept. 14, 2022 Ballotpedia, Restoration PAC, accessed Sept. 30, 2022 Wisconsin Public Radio, \"Here’s what to know about abortion access in post- Roe Wisconsin,\" Sept. 9, 2022 Reno Gazette-Journal, \"RGJ fact check: Does Cortez Masto support abortion up to moment of live birth?\" Aug. 15, 2022 PolitiFact, \"Fact-checking Blake Masters: Mark Kelly voted to legalize abortion ‘up until the moment of birth,’\" Aug. 1, 2022 PolitiFact, \"Marco Rubio misleads on Val Demings\' stance on abortion later in pregnancy,\" Sept. 16, 2022 Email exchange with Dan Curry, Restoration PAC Kaiser Family Foundation, State Bans on So-called \"Partial Birth\" Abortion, updated July 7, 2022 Mayo Clinic, Premature birth - symptoms and causes, accessed Sept. 30, 2022 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preterm birth, accessed Oct. 3, 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation, Abortions later in pregnancy, Dec. 5, 2019 Appleton Post-Crescent, \"If Roe is overturned, Wisconsin law would allow abortion only \'to save the life of the mother.\' Doctors say it\'s not always so clear-cut,\" May 10, 2022 Barnes campaign statement on the overturning of Roe v. Wade, June 24, 2022 Axios, \"How late in pregnancy each state allows abortions,\" June 24, 2022 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, \"Is abortion legal in Wisconsin? Here\'s how the overturning of Roe v. Wade affects Wisconsin abortion laws,\" June 24, 2022 Justia, Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), accessed Sept. 30, 2022 ## Browse the Truth-O-Meter ### More by Madeline Heim ![](\\" ![](\\" Donald Trump Jr. stated on July 17, 2024 in Speech: After being shot at a Milwaukee rally in 1912, former President Teddy Roosevelt “finished his speech and he kept fighting.” ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Madeline Heim • July 18, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Jon Stewart stated on July 16, 2024 in TV appearance: Milwaukee\'s Marcus Performing Arts Center – where \'The Daily Show\' had been scheduled – “was originally located in the ‘soft perimeter,’ they called it, security-wise” but “was shifted, understandably so, to the ‘hard perimeter.’” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madeline Heim • July 17, 2024 ![](\\" new/e5f81dc43ebbfab7c9d9b56cfba2f398.jpg\\") ![](\\" new/9fbc38bd9f4148c4e7374ecdd8d95da4.jpg\\") Tammy Baldwin stated on May 5, 2024 in X, formerly Twitter: “When I worked on the Affordable Care Act, I wrote the amendment that allows all young people to stay on their parents’ health insurance until they turn 26. Overnight, millions of young Americans got health care.” ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Madeline Heim • May 17, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Amanda Nedweski stated on January 22, 2024 in Wisconsin Assembly: \"We have technology and medical advancements today that can tell you if you are pregnant the day after conception.\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madeline Heim • March 8, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Heartland Signal stated on February 20, 2024 in X, formerly Twitter: Says Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde claims he \"understands the tragedy of children being trafficked through Central America because he owns three homes there.\" ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Madeline Heim • February 22, 2024 ![](\\" ![](\\" Opportunity Wisconsin stated on September 14, 2023 in News release: \"The repeal of Roe v. Wade has exacerbated the state’s OB-GYN shortage as residency programs report a decline in enrollment due to the inability of residents to receive training in-state.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Madeline Heim • October 25, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Ron Johnson stated on April 24, 2023 in Public appearance: The COVID vaccine “has been proven to have negative efficacy.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madeline Heim • June 7, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" American Principles Project stated on March 8, 2023 in Campaign ad: At a Wisconsin school, a 12-year-old girl \"was transitioned into a boy by school officials without parental consent,\" and Protasiewicz supports it. ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Madeline Heim • March 29, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Darrin Madison stated on February 8, 2023 in News release: Under a GOP bill on cash bail, \"a large quantity of people who are accused of crimes, including anyone who even witnesses certain crimes, could now be detained and subject to bail.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Madeline Heim • March 17, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Robin Vos stated on January 19, 2023 in Speech: In Wisconsin, even multimillionaires can be on BadgerCare \"because we don\'t even ask people what their income level is to qualify for free health care.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Madeline Heim • February 9, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Scott Walker stated on January 1, 2023 in Twitter: “Every pro-life Governor up for election in November won – by a large margin.” ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Madeline Heim • January 13, 2023 ![](\\" ![](\\" Tony Evers stated on November 14, 2022 in Twitter: “An overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites support restoring #Roe and legalizing marijuana.” ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Madeline Heim • December 2, 2022 ![](\\" ![](\\" Tim Michels stated on October 24, 2022 in News conference: Tony Evers “wants to let out between 9,000 and 10,000 more” Wisconsin prisoners ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Madeline Heim • November 4, 2022 ![](\\" ![](\\" Tony Evers stated on October 19, 2022 in Campaign ad: If a 12-year-old girl became pregnant because of rape or incest, \"Tim Michels would force her to deliver the baby.\" ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"mostly-true\\"](\\" mostly-true.jpg\\") By Madeline Heim • October 21, 2022 ![](\\" ![](\\" Tony Evers stated on October 6, 2022 in Campaign email: Says “Tim Michels wants to defund public education — calling it ‘the definition of insanity’ to continue to fund public schools.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Madeline Heim • October 17, 2022 ### Group twists Barnes\' abortion rights position beyond recognition * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on August 27, 2024 in an Instagram post: California S.B. 1174 eliminates the requirement for voter ID at polling places. ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Sofia Ahmed • August 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on August 29, 2024 in X posts: President Joe Biden “did a campaign ad at the graves in Arlington in 2020.” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Loreben Tuquero • August 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on August 16, 2024 in a video: Video shows “Kamala Harris describing how she can ruin lives with the \'swipe of a pen.’\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu • August 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on August 25, 2024 in a post: Kamala Harris’ “plan to tax unrecognized Capital Gains mean(s) if your house goes up in value you will have to pay that Tax Even if you don’t sell your House!” ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"barely-true\\"](\\" barely-true.jpg\\") By Sara Swann • August 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Facebook posts stated on August 25, 2024 in a Facebook post: “There’s no such thing as menopause.” ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"pants-fire\\"](\\" pants-fire.jpg\\") By Madison Czopek • August 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Instagram posts stated on August 27, 2024 in an Instagram post: “Hollywood actor Kurt Russell just said: ‘It is now proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt that Kamala Harris and Joe Biden CHEATED in the 2020 election with mail-in ballots.’” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Caleb McCullough • August 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Kamala Harris stated on August 22, 2024 in her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention: Former President Donald Trump \"intends to enact what, in effect, is a national sales tax ... that would raise prices on middle-class families by almost $4,000 a year.\" ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" th.jpg\\") ![\\"half-true\\"](\\" true.jpg\\") By Louis Jacobson • August 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on August 27, 2024 in a Facebook post: “Kurt Russell forms a new non-woke actors alliance with Roseanne Barr and Tim Allen.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • August 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" Viral image stated on August 23, 2024 in an X post: Photo of former President Donald Trump after an assassination attempt was generated by artificial intelligence. ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • August 30, 2024 * ![](\\" ![](\\" X posts stated on August 28, 2024 in an X post: C-SPAN captions for a JD Vance speech said, “Single person clapping.” ![\\"false\\"](\\" ![\\"false\\"](\\" By Ciara O\'Rourke • August 30, 2024 Load more ### Support independent fact-checking. Become a member! In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts. Sign me up #### Offices District of Columbia 1800 I Street NW Washington, DC 20006 Florida 801 3rd St. S St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727-821-9494 #### People * Joe Biden * Kamala Harris * Donald Trump * Mitch McConnell * Hakeem Jeffries * Ron DeSantis #### State Editions * California * Florida * Iowa * Michigan * New Hampshire * New York * North Carolina * Pennsylvania * Texas * West Virginia * Wisconsin #### About Us * Our Process * Our Staff * En Español * Who pays for PolitiFact? * Advertise with Us * Corrections and Updates * Newsletters #### RSS Feeds * Recent Articles and Fact-checks * Recent Fact-checks Suggest a Fact-check #### Follow us The Facts Newsletter Sign up Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Copyright ©All Rights Reserved Poynter Institute 2020, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization ![\\"\\"](\\" ✕ * * *
Says Mandela Barnes supports killing preemies infants born prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy