Gubernatorial Wins Give Pro-Life Advocates Chance to Cut Abortions Further

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Nov 3, 2010   |   12:24AM   |   Washington, DC

With wins from across the country in key gubernatorial elections, pro-life advocates have a clear opportunity to reduce abortions with the passage of additional pro-life legislation in state legislatures.

In Arizona, pro-life Governor Jan Brewer was able to keep her seat after she delighted pro-life advocates by singing significant pro-life legislation with a real potential to save the lives of unborn children.

Florida voters appeared likely to send pro-life candidate Rick Scott to Tallahassee to replace pro-abortion Gov. Charlie Crist, who vetoed a pro-life bill that would have allowed women a chance to see an ultrasound of their unborn child prior to an abortion.

In Georgia, pro-life candidate Nathan Deal allows pro-life groups a chance to continue passing bills by defeating his pro-abortion opponent.

Iowa is a state that will see a significant change as pro-life candidate Terry Brandstad defeated pro-abortion Chet Culver, who was a Planned Parenthood endorsement in a state where the abortion business is advancing the concept known as telemed abortions.

Sam Brownback becomes the next governor in Kansas, giving pro-life groups a real opportunity to reduce abortions, stop late-term abortions and prosecute abortion practitioners who flout the law.

In New Mexico, voters elected one of the few pro-life women governors and one who is a Hispanic to boot in Susanna Martinez. Mary Falin, another pro-life woman, was elected in the state of Oklahoma as was pro-life Nikki Haley in South Carolina.

Ohio saw pro-life former congressman John Kasich become the state’s next governor to replace pro-abortion stalwart Ted Strickland.

Voters in Pennsylvania rewarded pro-life candidate Tom Corbett in a race that will help the pro-life movement further reduce abortions beyond the great gains it has already seen.

Texas voters re-elected pro-life Gov. Rick Perry to another term and voters in Wisconsin helped the state elected pro-life candidate Scott Walker.

Thus far, pro-life candidates don’t know their fate in Alaska, Rhode Island, and Vermont — though Alaska voters appear to have re-elected pro-life Goveror Parnell.

Minnesota voters may have denied pro-life candidate Tom Emmer the opportunity to replace pro-life Gov. Tim Pawlenty but the race has yet to be called.

Not every election went the way pro-life advocates hoped.

In Colorado, pro-life groups lost an opportunity to put a pro-life governor in office because of the failed candidacy of Republican candidate Dan Maes. He took just enough of the statewide vote to deny pro-life candidate Tom Tancredo a chance at victory and it allowed pro-abortion John Hickenlooper to win.