Complete abortion ban in South Carolina more likely after primaries

Two of five sister senators' who blocked legislation to ban abortion from conception lost to far-right challengers

The right to legal abortion in South Carolina is in a dire" condition, said the state senator Penry Gustafson, who lost her seat Tuesday to a primary challenger prepared to vote to ban abortion at conception.

Gustafson is one of five female lawmakers dubbed the sister senators" who blocked legislation to outlaw abortion from the point of conception in the state. The three Republicans among them - Gustafson, Sandy Senn and Katrina Shealy - each drew male primary challengers who competed for conservative primary voters seeking more restrictive abortion access.