![Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards holds his hand to his heart, along with his wife, Donna Edwards, and their daughter Sarah Ellen Edwards, right, during the pledge of allegiance at the opening of the annual state legislative session in Baton Rouge on April 8. Nearly three decades ago, when Mrs. Edwards was 20 weeks pregnant with their first child, a doctor discovered their daughter had spina bifida and encouraged an abortion. The Edwardses refused. Edwards, who has repeatedly bucked national party leaders on abortion rights, signed legislation that would ban the procedure as early as six weeks of pregnancy. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards holds his hand to his heart, along with his wife, Donna Edwards, and their daughter Sarah Ellen Edwards, right, during the pledge of allegiance at the opening of the annual state legislative session in Baton Rouge on April 8. Nearly three decades ago, when Mrs. Edwards was 20 weeks pregnant with their first child, a doctor discovered their daughter had spina bifida and encouraged an abortion. The Edwardses refused. Edwards, who has repeatedly bucked national party leaders on abortion rights, signed legislation that would ban the procedure as early as six weeks of pregnancy.](https://publisher-ncreg.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pb-ncregister/swp/hv9hms/media/2020082704088_81249babf427c4d796235e1f3225e2c88fd7f937b5b155176306f4d863653d0b.jpeg)
Contrasting New Laws in Louisiana and Illinois Highlight States’ Abortion Divide
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards says signing a pro-life measure is ‘what my Catholic Christian faith requires,’ but Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker counters that his own state is ‘making history’ with its pro-abortion legislation.