Pro-life Republicans have picked up another seat in the U.S. Senate thanks to a victory in Saturday’s special election by pro-life Congressman Bill Cassidy over pro-abortion Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu. Cassidy pulled in 56 percent of the vote, to Landrieu’s 44 percent.
Cassidy had a 100% pro-life voting record while serving in Congress while Landrieu hadn’t cast a single pro-life vote over the last several years.
Ben Clapper of Louisiana Right to Life talked about the impact of the victory.
“We are so happy to say that Louisiana will now be represented by TWO pro-life U.S. Senators! Louisiana is a pro-life state. It is about time both our U.S. Senators represented that reality,” he said in an email to LifeNews. “The outcome today bolsters the pro-life advantage in the Senate, strengthening hope for progress on life-saving legislation and hopefully a more pro-life Supreme Court in the future. Senator-elect Cassidy has compiled a 100% pro-life record in Congress, and we look forward to working with him to advance the culture of life in the Senate.”
Clapper said pro-life voters turned out in force because of the stark contract on abortion between Cassidy and Landrieu.
“We want to thank our donors, staff, volunteers, and everyone else from throughout the state who worked so hard for so long on this election. Hundreds of citizen volunteers from the most northern parts of Louisiana to the most southern parts, and everything in between, responded to the call to educate their communities on the need to protect the right to life of unborn children. The pro-life issue made a tremendous impact in this election. It cannot be overlooked in any future Louisiana election,” he said.
“While the election is over and Louisiana has made a positive pro-life step, we must not forget that babies are still destroyed by abortion every day in our state. We must continue to strive for the day when all life is protected under law,” he said.
Other pro-life groups like National Right to Life and Susan B. Anthony List worked to support Cassidy over Landrieu.
“As a physician, Bill Cassidy has a unique understanding of the value and dignity of every human life. We are encouraged by his victory tonight,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List. “During his time in Washington, Congressman Cassidy has been a consistent advocate for the unborn, and voted for the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. We look forward to seeing this bill be advanced by a pro-life Senate in the new Congress.”
She said: “Senator Landrieu lost tonight because, unlike Rep. Cassidy, her words and actions have not been consistent. Over the years, she repeatedly sought to mislead pro-life voters about her record on abortion. She wanted to enjoy the reputation of a pro-life Senator while voting for taxpayer funded abortion and opposing the most popular pro-life bill in the nation.”
A video report released Monday by The New York Times, cited abortion as the “preeminent issue” accounting for the shift in Louisiana’s Catholic voters towards pro-life Republican candidates.
“Voters responded to our message,” continued Dannenfelser. “Up to 91 percent of Louisianans we reached said they were less likely to vote for Senator Landrieu after learning about her pro-abortion record. Louisiana is ranked the #1 most pro-life state in the nation. Senator Landrieu abandoned her constituents to side with the Democratic Party platform of abortion on-demand. Tonight the voters abandoned her in response.”
