Tuesday night did not go as planned for Republicans in Kentucky, Ohio, New Jersey, and Virginia. In Kentucky, President Donald Trump-endorsed and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell protégé Attorney General Daniel Cameron was defeated by incumbent Governor Andy Beshear by a healthy 5 points. In Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin’s personal push to hold the House of Delegates and retake the state Senate fell flat on both fronts. In Ohio, measures legalizing marijuana and adding an absolute right to an abortion amendment to the state constitution popularly passed. In New Jersey, Democrats consolidated power.

It wasn’t all bad for Republicans. In Virginia districts where Biden had won by less than 9 points, Republicans tended to win. In Mississippi, Governor Tate Reeves, who survived a primary scare and faced a strong Democratic opponent strengthened by changes in how Mississippi’s statewide elections are conducted, handedly won re-election.

Still, with Governor Youngkin putting so much at stake, including his rumored future national ambitions, the results were disappointing for Republicans. Republicans lost ground and a rising star in Daniel Cameron, who would have been vaulted into the national conversation with a win.

Chief among the reasons for Tuesday night’s results: abortion. In Ohio it was literally on the ballot, where 18 counties won by Trump in 2020 voted for full abortion rights and exit polls showed nearly 20 percent of Republican voters and a majority of independents supporting the measure. In Kentucky, after voters in the state rejected a measure denying a right to abortion in 2022, Beshear hit Cameron repeatedly on the issue with a heavy ad campaign. In Virginia, Youngkin attempted to play defense for candidates who would not by attempting to flip the script and paint Democrats as the extreme party on abortion, arguing for a 15 week ban with exceptions and using “reasonable limits” language.

The next night in Miami, the major candidates for the Republican presidential nomination–bar President Trump–squared off. And, perhaps due to the night before, abortion was the most talked about topic at the third debate, logging 8 minutes and 30 seconds of dialogue. So what did the candidates have to say?

Ron DeSantis

First Debate: “You gotta do what you think is right … I was proud to sign the heartbeat bill … What the Democrats are trying to do on this issue is wrong, to allow abortions right up until the date of birth … I understand that Wisconsin is going to do it different than Texas, I understand Iowa and New Hampshire are going to do it different.”

Third Debate: “I stand for a culture of life … At the same time, I understand that some of these states are doing it a little bit different. Texas is not gonna do it the same as New Hampshire. I wasn't necessarily going to do it the same as Virginia. So you gotta work from the bottom up.”

Nikki Haley

First Debate: “I am unapologetically pro-life … Having said that, we need to stop demonizing this issue … When it comes to a federal ban, let's be honest with the American people … let’s find consensus. Can’t we all agree that we should ban late term abortions? Can’t we all agree that we should encourage adoptions? Can’t we all agree that doctors and nurses who don't believe in abortion shouldn't have to perform them? Can’t we all agree that contraception should be available? And can’t we all agree that we are not gonna put a woman in jail or give her the death penalty if she gets an abortion? Let’s treat this like a respectful issue and humanize the situation and stop demonizing the situation.”

Third Debate: “I think you have to be honest with the American people, this is a personal issue for every woman and every man … I am unapologetically pro-life … As much as I am pro-life, I don’t judge anyone for being pro-choice, and I don't want them to judge me for being pro-life. So when we look at this, there are some states which are going more on the pro-life side, I welcome that. There are some states that are going more on the pro-choice side, I wish that wasn’t the case, but the people decided. But when it comes to the federal law … no Republican president can ban abortions … let’s find consensus … Stop the judgment … I will sign something that can get 60 Senate votes.”

Vivek Ramswamy

First Debate: No mention.

Third Debate: “If in the state of Ohio, we talked about access to contraception, adoption, and also, here’s the missing ingredient in this movement, sexual responsibility for men … so we can tell women that we are all in this together … I come back to that case that Clarence Thomas spoke of. A pregnant woman walking down the street, she’s assaulted. The unborn child dies in that assault. You find one person in this country who says that that criminal does not deserve liability for that death. You won’t find one.”

Chris Christie

First Debate: No mention.

Third Debate: “For 50 years, conservative lawyers have been arguing that the federal government should have nothing to do with this issue constitutionally … this is an issue which should be decided in each state.”

Tim Scott

First Debate: “We cannot have states like California, New York, and Illinois have abortions on demand up until the day of birth … We must have a president of the United States who will, at a minimum, fight for a 15 week limit. I am 100% a pro-life conservative … We can't leave it to Illinois. We can't leave it to Minnesota … We must solve that issue with a 15 week limit, at a minimum.”

Third Debate: “I would certainly, as president of the United states, have a 15 week national limit … I would challenge Nikki and Ron to join me … We should be supporting life after the baby is born as well”