South Carolina Senate blocks abortion ban bill in late-night vote

The South Carolina Senate blocked legislation that would have implemented a wide-ranging ban on abortions early Friday night after a Democratic filibuster.

In a 24-21 vote, the state Senate voted to send the measure back to committee, killing it for the year, according to The Charleston Post and Courier. Five Republicans joined with Democrats to block the bill.

The bill would have outlawed nearly all abortions in the state, with exceptions in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life was endangered.

{mosads}Democratic lawmakers praised the vote, which was a major victory for the party in the GOP-controlled statehouse. One Democrat told the Post and Courier that the move was “mind-boggling.”

“It’s like being down by eight in the bottom of the ninth inning and you’re able to get on a hitting streak at the end to pull it out,” Sen. Mike Fanning (D) told the paper. “It is mind-boggling and extremely relieving.”

The Senate approved the bill in a preliminary vote on Wednesday, but GOP lawmakers failed to get enough votes to end the Democrats’ filibuster.