PRIMARIES SET UP
NOVEMBER ELECTIONS

By the end of June, half of the states will have held their primaries, with the balance continuing through September. Some pro-abortion members of Congress are likely to find themselves in tough races in the November general election, as strong pro-life candidates have come through primaries. Pro-lifers are also set to put several more governor's offices into the pro-life column.

In California, results of the June 2 primary set up a gubernatorial struggle between pro-life Republican Attorney General Dan Lungren and pro-abortion Democrat Lt. Governor Gray Davis. Lungren, a former congressman, served on the 1996 National Republican Convention platform committee and gave a stirring speech against partial-birth abortion during what was a winning effort to maintain a pro-life plank in the platform.

Davis came through a tough primary which received a lot of attention because of the extraordinary amounts of money spent by his two opponents, pro-abortion Al Checchi and pro-abortion Congresswoman Jane Harmon. Lost was the fact that Davis reportedly would have broken the record for spending in a statewide race in California except that he was overshadowed by the almost $50 million that Checchi and Harmon put into the race. Lungren is in for a tough battle but pro-lifers are hopeful that he will replace pro-abortion Republican Gov. Pete Wilson, who is not seeking re-election.

In Indiana, businessman Gary Hofmeister defeated pro-abortion former state Sen. Virginia Blankenbaker to win the Republican nomination in the 10th congressional district. He will be running against pro-abortion Congresswoman Julia Carson (D), the only member of the Indiana delegation to vote against the ban on partial-birth abortions.

In Indiana's ninth district, pro-life former state Sen. Jean Leising (R) is running for a seat left vacant by the retirement of Rep. Lee Hamilton (D). Leising ran against Hamilton in 1994 and 1996. In her first run, she shocked most of the political community by garnering 48% of the vote against the strongly entrenched incumbent. Leising defeated two other pro-life candidates in the May 5 primary and will now take on pro-abortion former state Sen. Baron Hill (D).

In Pennsylvania, pro-lifers have two candidates, one from each party, running for the seat of retiring pro-life Congressman Joe McDade (R). Democrat Pat Casey, an attorney and the son of pro-life former Gov. Bob Casey, will square off against pro-life Republican businessman Don Sherwood. Sherwood received his party's nomination by garnering 43% of the vote in a crowded primary field on May 19.

In Ohio, pro-life Republican state Sen. Grace Drake has set up her campaign to take on pro-abortion Congressman Sherwood Brown (D). In Iowa, pro-life Republican state Sen. Larry McKibben won his June 2 primary and is ready to challenge pro-abortion Democratic Congressman Leonard Boswell, who is serving his first term in the U.S. House.

Pro-life Republican Ohio Gov. George Voinovich is gearing up for a Senate run, seeking to replace retiring pro-abortion Democratic Sen. John Glenn. Although this race could be close, Voinovich is favored to defeat pro-abortion former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Mary Boyle. Boyle, a pro-abortion Democrat, ran for an open Senate seat in 1994, losing to pro-life Republican Sen. Mike DeWine.

The gubernatorial race will go to either pro-life Secretary of State Bob Taft (R) or the former attorney general, pro-abortion Lee Fischer (D).

Several good races are shaping up for the general election in New Jersey as pro-life challengers put together strong campaigns. Mike Ferguson, a teacher at Brookdale Community College, is taking on pro-abortion Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone. Pallone was elected in 1988 as a pro-life Democrat but changed his position in 1989. Ferguson amazed political pundits when his December 31, 1997, report to the Federal Election Commission showed that he had raised more funds than Pallone during 1997.

Another pro-abortion congressman from New Jersey, first-term Democrat Steven Rothman, may find himself in a tough campaign as pro-life Republican Steven Lonegan, the mayor of Bogata, is running an aggressive campaign.

Pro-life Republican Sen. Dirk Kempthorne is leaving Washington and will likely win his bid to become the next governor of Idaho. He would replace retiring pro-abortion Republican Governor Phil Batt. Kempthorne's U.S. Senate seat will likely go to pro-life Republican Congressman Mike Crapo. Crapo's second district seat will be the scene of a close race between pro-life Republican Mike Simpson and former Democratic Congressman Richard Stallings. Simpson, speaker of the state House, defeated three others to win his party's nomination May 26. Stallings is pro-life but has taken a position on "campaign finance reform" that, if enacted, would severely limit the pro-life movement's ability to be involved in the public policy debate.

In South Dakota, pro-life attorney Ron Schmidt (R) defeated two opponents to win his primary and is now ready to take on pro-abortion Senator Tom Daschle (D), the Senate minority leader.

In Arkansas, pro-life state Sen. Phil Wyrick faced no primary opposition and is gearing up to take on pro-abortion Democratic Congressman Vic Snyder. Snyder is serving his first term and voted against a ban on partial-birth abortions.

In Kentucky, two congressmen will go head to head in what is expected to be an extremely close contest. Pro-life Republican Jim Bunning and pro-abortion Democrat Scotty Baesler are competing to succeed retiring pro-life Democratic Sen. Wendell Ford. Bunning's fourth congressional district seat will go to either pro-life Republican state Sen. Gex "Jay" Williams or Boone County Judge Democrat Ken Lucas. Baesler's sixth district seat will feature a contest between pro-life physician Ernie Fletcher (R) and pro-abortion state Sen. Ernesto Scorsone (D).

With 25 states left to hold primaries, there will be more opportunities for pro-life candidates to win office in November. Pro-lifers must work hard in the coming months to see that unborn children and the vulnerable elderly and disabled have the best representation possible to protect them.