WASHINGTON, April 19 (UPI) -- Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a federal law banning so-called partial birth abortions, the abortion battle is likely to shift to the states.
Anti-abortion groups, having won a major legal victory, are likely to push for tougher state laws, The New York Times said.
But they could have a hard time. The Democratic surge in last November's election made many state legislatures more likely to favor abortion rights.
NARAL-Pro Choice said six new governors who favor abortion access were elected with one new anti-abortion governor. Seventeen legislatures switched sides on the issue, two of them moving into the anti-abortion camp while 15 moved the other way.
Mary Balch, director of state legislation for the National Right to Life Committee, said new laws limiting abortion access have been introduced in six states -- North Dakota, Missouri, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas and Alabama. In Alabama, immediately after the Supreme Court handed down its 5-4 opinion Wednesday, a legislator introduced a bill that would ban most abortions.
