Today, NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC released its next round of House and Senate endorsements for the 2012 elections. For the first quarter of the year, the pro-abortion PAC reports that it contributed nearly $180,000 to like-minded candidates.
For US Senate, NARAL has endorsed incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) in Ohio. Brown has a 0% career rating from the National Right to Life on abortion-related issues. Brown’s extremism on abortion goes as far as voting against the ban on partial-birth abortion and against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. Brown will face pro-life Republican Josh Mandel, who currently serves as Ohio’s State Treasurer. Mandel has earned the backing of key pro-life organizations in Ohio, including Ohio Right to Life.
In the races for the open Senate seats in Hawaii and New Mexico, NARAL issued endorsements for Rep. Mazie Hirono (D) and Rep. Martin Heinrich (D), both of which have not cast one pro-life vote during their time in Congress. Hirono will face former HI Governor Linda Lingle (R) in the general election. Lingle has a mixed record on pro-life issues. However, a win for Republicans in Hawaii would bring pro-life advocates one step closer to ousting the pro-abortion Democratic leadership in the Senate, which has been responsible for blocking key pro-life legislation.
In New Mexico, polls indicate Heinrich will likely win the Democratic nomination for Senate. In the general election, he will face off against either former Rep. Heather Wilson or conservative businessman Greg Sowards. Wilson has a mixed record on pro-life issues but stood with pro-life advocates in support of the Mexico City Policy and against embryonic stem cell research. Sowards notes in a campaign video that he holds a pro-life position.
These three new NARAL endorsements for Senate follow previous endorsements of Rep. Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin and Rep. Shelly Berkley in Nevada, both of which have received the maximum donation of $10,000 from the pro-abortion PAC.
For the US House, NARAL issued five endorsements for pro-abortion candidates who lost Congressional bids in 2010; Ami Bera (CA-7), former Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11), Ann McLane Kuster (NH-2), former Rep. Dan Maffei (NY-25), and Manan Trivedi (PA-6).
In California’s 7th district, pro-abortion Ami Bera will face off against pro-life Republican Congressman Dan Lungren. Lungren has a 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee. Bera has made her support for Obamacare and consequent HHS mandates a cornerstone of her campaign. Bera penned an editorial in the Huffington Post in opposition to Sen. Roy Blunt’s amendment to protect conscience rights.
NARAL seeks to oust incumbent Republican Judy Biggert in Illinois’ 11th district and replace her with 100% pro-abortion Democrat Bill Foster. In 78 scored votes from the National Right to Life Committee, Biggert voted pro-abortion 59 times. She also holds a 75% rating from NARAL. Yet, NARAL is focused on getting the Speaker’s gavel back into Nancy Pelosi’s hands and that requires electing more Democrats. Biggert also disappointed NARAL with votes against Obamacare and in favor of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. Foster, who previously served in Congress, had NARAL’s backing in the 2008 and 2010 elections.
In New Hampshire’s 2nd district, NARAL is also looking for pro-abortion purity, backing pro-abortion Ann McLane Kuster (D) over incumbent Charlie Bass. In 85 scored votes from the National Right to Life Committee, Bass voted pro-abortion 67 times. However, Bass stood with pro-life advocates against Obamacare and voted in favor of the No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Act and the Protect Life Act. In a previous endorsement of Kuster, NARAL labels her “a fully pro-choice candidate.”
WANT TO DEFEAT OBAMA?
NARAL’s endorsement of former Rep. Dan Maffei in New York’s 25th district is not much of a surprise. After defeating pro-abortion incumbent Maffei (D) in 2010, Republican Ann Marie Buerkle went on to become an outspoken pro-life advocate in the US House. Congresswoman Buerkle has earned a 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee, voting to repeal Obamacare, to cut federal funds to Planned Parenthood and in favor of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. Maffei, on the other hand, voted for Obamacare, in favor of Planned Parenthood funding and in favor of the DISCLOSE Act, which would have restricted the free speech of grassroots pro-life groups.
In Pennsylvania’s 6th district, NARAL is targeting incumbent Congressman Jim Gerlach, putting their faith once again in pro-abortion Democrat Manan Trivedi. Gerlach has a 100% rating in the 112th Congress and was backed by both the National Right to Life Committee and the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation in 2010. Since his reelection, Gerlach voted to repeal Obamacare, to cut federal funds to Planned Parenthood and in favor of the No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Act.
NARAL’s PAC also endorsed pro-abortion challengers in five other Congressional races: Kathy Boockvar (PA-8), Val Demings (FL-10), Pat Kreitlow (WI-7), John LaFerla (MD-1), and Rob Zerban (WI-1). In races for open House seats, NARAL has endorsed Lois Frankel (FL-22), Denny Heck (WA-10), Steven Horsford (NV-4), John Oceguera (NV-3), and former Rep. Dina Titus (NV-1).
In January, NARAL announced endorsements for pro-abortion stalwarts in the House: Reps. Lois Capps, Judy Chu, Joe Crowley, Diana DeGette, Rosa DeLauro, Donna Edwards, Steve Israel, Barbara Lee, Nita Lowey, Carolyn Maloney, Gwen Moore, Jerry Nadler, Mike Quigley, Jackie Speier, Jan Schakowsky, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Louise Slaughter, and Henry Waxman. NARAL also endorsed House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Whip Steny Hoyer.
