Screenshot of Rick Scott ad that began airing on June 5, 2024
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Rick Scott’s Senate campaign unveiled a seven-figure, statewide TV and digital platform ad Wednesday that shows him expressing support for access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.
The release came as U.S. Senate Democrats pressed legislation to protect access to contraception, with a vote on that measure expected later on Wednesday, and a vote on IVF set for next week. Neither measure is expected to pass in that chamber, where Democrats would need 60 votes to overcome the filibuster (on Tuesday Scott co-signed on to a letter where he said it was “disgusting” for Democrats to bring up the issue of contraception to “score cheap political points.”).
“I refuse to let any Democrat try to lie about my stance on IVF and contraceptives in their desperate attempt to win an election,” Scott, Florida’s junior U.S. senator, said in a press release announcing the ad buy.
Scott, a Republican, will likely face former South Florida Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in November. Both candidates must get through their respective party primary elections in August.
Mucarsel-Powell has been relentless in criticizing Scott’s record on abortion rights. Last week, her campaign issued a statement noting that the Scott had received an “A+” rating from Students for Life Action, an anti-abortion organization that opposes IVF.
Scott has gone back and forth during this campaign about whether he supports a six-week or 15-week abortion ban. He has said that Congress should leave those decisions to the states.
In his ad, Scott bemoans “attack ads” that “say the same crazy stuff about every Republican” — that “they hate women, birth control, even IVF.”
“It’s ridiculous. Let’s get real: IVF, in vitro fertilization, has brought beautiful babies to so many families. For me it’s personal. My youngest daughter has been undergoing IVF. You can count on that. I approve this message.”
A decision by the Alabama Supreme Court earlier this year classifying frozen embryos as people has sparked a national conversation about the procedure. Immediately after that decision, Illinois Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth pushed to pass a bill that would establish federal protections for IVF and other fertility treatments. However that bill was blocked by Mississippi Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith.
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