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South Carolina reported a 16 percent decrease in in-state abortions last year following the 2023 law banning most abortions after six weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest, or to preserve the mother's life. Despite the decline, anti-abortion groups continue to push for stricter laws, while critics argue the ban has shifted abortions to out-of-state providers and increased use of medication abortions via telehealth.

In the South Carolina GOP governor debate, only U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman supported signing a strict abortion ban without exceptions for rape, incest, or fatal fetal anomalies, while other candidates, including Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson, opposed such a measure. The debate highlighted divisions among candidates on abortion policy ahead of the June 9 primary, with South Carolina Senate advancing a restrictive abortion bill the same day.

The South Carolina House passed legislation criminalizing the mailing of abortion-inducing drugs like mifepristone and misoprostol into the state, with potential prison time and fines for providers and distributors. The bill reclassifies these drugs as Schedule 4 controlled substances, aiming to close loopholes in current abortion laws, but faces criticism over its impact on medical use and privacy concerns, and must still pass the Senate and be signed by the governor.