Florida’s Republican Governor, Ron DeSantis, signed a measure prohibiting most abortions after six weeks, limiting abortion availability in the state and the South.

After the Republican-led House of Representatives passed the bill 70-40, DeSantis signed it late Thursday night. The state Senate approved the bill 26-13 on April 3.

“We are proud to support life and family in the state of Florida,” DeSantis stated.

Rape, incest, and substantial threats to the mother’s life or health allow abortions under the law.

DeSantis, who may run for president in 2024, may risk electoral damage by supporting stricter limits.

Since the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade last year, abortion has become a major political issue in the U.S. Polls showed that abortion rights helped Democrats win November’s midterm elections.

On Wednesday, Reuters/Ipsos reported that 50% of Americans, including 44% of Republicans, reject a six-week abortion ban. The same poll found that 43% of Republicans would vote less for a leader who limits abortion.

“The ban flies in the face of fundamental freedoms and is out of step with the views of the vast majority of the people of Florida and all the United States,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Thursday’s Florida debate lasted hours. Republican backers argued the measure protected women’s health by establishing exclusions for hazardous pregnancies and that physicians should not hesitate to provide life-saving abortions.

“We have the opportunity to lead the national debate about the importance of protecting life and giving every child the opportunity to be born,” said Republican Representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka, a bill sponsor.

Democrats argued the plan would hurt women and that Republicans prioritized their religious views and political gain before constituent health.

“We are propping up a political agenda on the backs of women and birthing people,” said Democratic Representative Michele Rayner-Goolsby.

The restriction’s survival depends on a court challenge to the state’s 15-week abortion ban, which abortion doctors say violates the state’s constitutional right to privacy.

The six-week restriction would begin 30 days after the Florida Supreme Court upholds the 15-week ban.

Since the Supreme Court decimated federal abortion rights, Southeast patients have traveled to Florida to end their pregnancies. Unfortunately, most states in the area have prohibited the treatment early in pregnancy.

“It will turn Florida from one of the Southeast’s last access points for abortion to one that severely limits care,” Planned Parenthood of South, East, and North Florida president and CEO Alexandra Mandado said of the ban.