Pennsylvania Pro-Life Senator Pat Toomey Defeats Pro-Abortion Rival Katie McGinty

State   |   Micaiah Bilger   |   Nov 9, 2016   |   6:24PM   |   Harrisburg, PA

Pennsylvanians re-elected pro-life U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey to a second term in office on Tuesday in one of the most closely watched Senate races in the nation.

Toomey, a Republican, narrowly beat pro-abortion Democratic challenger Katie McGinty on Tuesday, winning by about 1 percent (about 100,000 votes), according to unofficial election returns. In the weeks leading up to the election, polls showed Toomey and McGinty were about even.

Toomey has a strong pro-life record, according to the National Right to Life Committee. He supports protections for unborn children, including the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and opposes using taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions.

Maria Gallagher, Legislative/PAC Director for the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, an affiliate of National Right to Life, told LifeNews that Toomey has been a strong advocate for life in the Senate.

“U.S. Senator Pat Toomey has demonstrated a consistent dedication to safeguarding the rights of Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable citizens, including children, mothers, people with disabilities, and the frail elderly,” Gallagher said. “Throughout his time in the Senate, he has shown his commitment to ensuring that Pennsylvanians are protected—from the dawn to the twilight of life.”

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Political groups poured $155 million into the U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania, making it the most expensive Senate race in history, according to The Center for Responsive Politics. Some of that money came from Planned Parenthood, which reportedly spent $1.3 million on ads attacking Toomey’s pro-life position.

McGinty’s pro-abortion record made her a favorite of abortion activists. The pro-abortion group Emily’s List also spent more than $3 million through its affiliated Women Vote! Super PAC on the Pennsylvania Senate race, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

In August, Gallagher explained more about Toomey’s record on abortion:

The NRLC scorecard for the 114th Congress, combined sessions, shows that Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey voted in favor of a ban on late-term abortions—a ban which would protect unborn children and their mothers from the harm of abortion once the preborn baby is 20 weeks old. Senator Toomey also opposed the Murray Amendment, designed to provide one billion dollars to abortion operations, including Planned Parenthood. He also opposed the Collins Amendment to preserve federal funding of Planned Parenthood, which is the nation’s largest abortion operation.

Senator Toomey supported passage of a pro-life reconciliation bill to defund Planned Parenthood and repeal anti-life provisions of Obamacare.

Toomey’s re-election was one of the key victories that helped Republicans hold control of the U.S. Senate this fall.

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