Texas Pro-Life Group Looks to Runoff Election to Build on Primary Victories
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
March 25, 2010
Austin, TX (LifeNews.com) — Seeking to build on the election victories it experienced in the March 2 primary elections, Texas Right to Life has endorsed a crop of state and federal candidates for the upcoming runoff elections. The pro-life groups is also drawing voters’ attention to marquee races this November.
The main race for Texans is the gubernatorial contest and the primary election set up a hotly contested battle between a pro-life and pro-abortion candidate.
Governor Rick Perry won his race soundly, avoiding a runoff despite two primary opponents seeking to unseat him. The governor will now face former Houston Mayor Bill White in the November general election.
"White keeps strong ties to Planned Parenthood, earning its endorsement and appointing its national chair to oversee Houston’s health department. Texas Right to Life PAC will keep working for Governor Perry right through till November," the pro-life group told LifeNews.com today.
For Supreme Court Place 3, Rick Green made the runoff election and Right to Life says voters need to support him because it can affect pro-life legislation.
"Texas Right to Life PAC fully endorses Rick Green. When the state legislature passes Pro-Life bills, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU file lawsuits to block the measures, and we must have justices on the high bench who understand the Constitution, not rewrite," the group said.
In congressional races, Texas Right to Life PAC picked ten out of 11 winners, plus an additional three in the April runoff election.
The winners of the runoff elections will face pro-abortion Democrats in the November general election, the group notes.
Bill Flores led the voting in Congressional District 17 (Waco, College Station, Cleburne) and faces a runoff in April to take on pro-abortion Chet Edwards in November. Quico Canseco in Congressional District 23 (San Antonio, Fort Stockton, Eagle Pass, Del Rio) faces a runoff, too, to take on pro-abortion Ciro Rodriguez in November.
Texas Right to Life is also urging pro-life voters to back Paul Haring in the 15th congressional district.
In the State Senate, Texas Right to Life protected-incumbents Senator Bob Deuell and Senator Steve Ogden won their re-election bids.
"Both have earned perfect 100% voting records. Senator Ogden is chair of the powerful Senate Finance Committee and has been a steadfast supporter of the Alternatives to Abortion funding in state budget. Senator Deuell has authored many important amendments and measures, including reform to the draconian Texas Advance Directives Act (the ten-day law)," the pro-life group notes.
The State House featured several tough races, and ten of Texas Right to Life’s candidates won with an additional eight in run-offs.
Texas Right to Life incumbents had a stellar showing as Representatives Dan Flynn (Van), Edmund Kuempel (Seguin), Sid Miller (Stephenville), Kelly Hancock (North Richland Hills), Todd Smith (Euless), and John Davis (Clear Lake) won their primaries outright.
"These six members have earned a perfect 100% Pro-Life voting record during their service to the state," Right to Life says.
Texas Right to Life also helped elect candidates Lanham Lyne (Wichita Falls), Bill Zedler (Arlington), Cindy Burkett (Mesquite), and Fernando Herrera (Houston).
"Lyne is running in an open race to replace a retiring, moderate representative so this signifies a pickup for the Pro-Life movement. Zedler and Burkett are running to defeat pro-abortion Democrats in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Both districts are toss-ups and are prime opportunities to return Pro-Life representation from the districts to Austin," Right to Life comments.
Texas Right to Life is disappointed that three pro-life incumbents lost their elections.
"Long-time friend of Texas Right to Life, Railroad Commissioner Victor Carrillo, Pro-Life champion State Representative Betty Brown (R-Terrell), and Representative Dora Olivo (D-Missouri City) all lost their elections by slim margins. Their loss is a loss to the sanctity of innocent human life," TRTL said.
Related web sites:
Texas Right to Life – https://www.texasrighttolife.com/home.php
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