Pence says he supports banning abortions for nonviable pregnancies

Former Vice President Mike Pence said abortion should be banned when a pregnancy is not viable, according to the Associated Press.

"I'm pro-life. I don't apologize for it," Pence told the AP in a recent interview. "I just have heard so many stories over the years of courageous women and families who were told that their unborn child would not go to term or would not survive. And then they had a healthy pregnancy and a healthy delivery."

CNN has reached out to the Pence campaign for comment.

Pence strongly opposes abortion and has been perhaps the most outspoken Republican candidate about the issue as many of his GOP rivals have avoided staking out a clear position on abortion.

During a CNN town hall in Iowa last month, Pence said he supports a federal abortion ban including exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother. He also backs federal legislation limiting the procedure and has called on other 2024 GOP candidates to support a 15-week national abortion ban.

Pence told CNN's Wolf Blitzer back in March that he would support legislation restricting abortion to six weeks of pregnancy. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law in his state that banned abortion at six weeks while President Donald Trump has suggested the legislation was "too harsh."

Clinicians use ultrasound results and measure pregnancy hormone levels in order to determine "whether a pregnancy is viable beyond the first trimester," according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.