| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 18, 2020 |
CONTACT: Mallory Quigley [email protected], (202) 223-8073 |
Dannenfelser: Lipinski’s Defeat an Ominous Sign for Democratic Party; Raises the Stakes of November Elections
Washington, D.C. – Tonight the national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) and its partner Women Speak Out PAC (WSO) issued the following statement in response to the defeat of Democratic Congressman Dan Lipinski by abortion extremist Marie Newman in Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District primary:
“We offer condolences to our friend Congressman Lipinski, who fought fiercely and admirably in this race, and to the pro-life citizens of his district who have lost a champion,” said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “Congressman Lipinski has long been a profile in courage, bucking the sad trend of Democrat leaders vying to be the greatest advocate of abortion. We are deeply grateful for his bravery in standing strong.
“The expulsion of this pro-life hero from Congress by his own party is an ominous sign for pro-life Democrats and all who long to see both major parties hold a principled stance in favor of life. Extremist party leaders are determined to stamp out any pro-life voice within the party in pursuing an agenda of abortion on demand through birth, paid for by taxpayers, and even infanticide. This radical platform – to which Democrat candidates are called to religiously adhere – deeply offends mainstream American values and alienates millions of pro-life voters, even among rank-and-file Democrats.
“The stakes of the coming elections have just been raised, and our resolve to defeat extremists like Marie Newman this November increased. The pro-life leadership of President Trump and our Senate majority stands in stark contrast, appealing to pro-life voters rejected by the Democratic Party. Doubling down on abortion extremism remains a losing strategy nationwide. The overwhelming majority of Americans support compassionate protections for unborn children and their mothers. SBA List will work tirelessly in key battleground states through Election Day, reaching out to pro-life Democrats and Independents, as well as our base to ensure that every one of their voices is heard.”
This month Rep. Lipinski was one of only three Democrats in the U.S. House to vote in favor of a motion to recommit which included the text of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and would have protected babies who survive abortions. Lipinski is co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus and the lead co-sponsor of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.
WSO’s GOTV effort in this race included digital ads, phone calls, and voter contact mail to reach more than 17,000 pro-life Democrat households in the district ahead of Election Day.
Polling by Women Speak Out PAC this month found that 75 percent of likely Democratic primary voters in IL-03 support protections for babies who survive failed abortions. Forty-four percent support restrictions on abortion after the first trimester and 45 percent oppose taxpayer funding of abortion. In addition, national polling shows that over half of Democrats support limiting painful late-term abortions. Support is particularly strong among traditional Democratic voter groups, including millennials (78 percent), African Americans (70 percent), and Hispanics (57 percent).
WSO’s 2020 campaign in Illinois built upon the group’s activity in the race last cycle, in which a team of 70 canvassers, including SBA List staff and students from nearby universities, visited 17,000 pro-life Democrat households in the district in the final days of the race.
SBA List’s ground team has already visited more than 800,000 homes across battleground states this election cycle, currently visiting voters in Arizona, Florida, and North Carolina. The team will make four million visits to voters overall before Election Day.
SBA List is a network of more than 837,000 pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.
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