Overview
- Sen. Josh Hawley and his wife, Erin, have launched the Love Life Initiative, a dark-money group designed to fund anti-abortion state ballot measures and major TV ads, potentially including a Super Bowl buy.
- Trump aides say they received no advance notice of the plan and learned of it from Hawley’s Axios interview.
- The president’s political team argues elevating abortion would jeopardize GOP prospects with independents and suburban women in the 2026 midterms, urging a focus on economic gains instead.
- Several Trump lieutenants say the effort appears aimed at boosting Hawley’s profile for a potential 2028 challenge to Vice President Vance.
- Two advisers also faulted the Republican consulting firm OnMessage for supporting Hawley while advising the party’s House campaign arm.