Pro-lifers Very Active in Congressional Races

By Carol Tobias
NRL PAC Director

While the nation's focus understandably was on the outcome of the presidential election, little attention was paid to the congressional elections, in which the Republicans maintained control of the U.S. House and the Senate found itself with a 50- 50 split for the first time in 120 years.

Overall, National Right to Life PAC was involved in more than 70 House and Senate races. Pro-abortion forces poured in unprecedented amounts of money, especially in the closing weeks of the election cycle. If anything can be said with absolute certainty, it is that without the active and energetic involvement of pro-life volunteers all over the country, pro- life forces would have suffered devastating losses.

Pro-life forces lost four incumbents in the Senate but picked up three seats. In all, pro-life forces lost one to three votes, depending on the issue. In addition, Senator Slade Gorton (R- Wa.), who had a mostly pro-life voting record, was defeated by pro-abortion former Congresswoman Maria Cantwell (D).

While five pro-life seats were lost in the House, three were picked up, for a net loss of two. However, it is also true that some districts where incumbents had mixed voting records will now be represented by congressmen who are much more pro-life.

For example there is New Jersey's 7th district, in which pro-life teacher Mike Ferguson (R) replaced Rep. Bob Franks (R), who made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate. In Florida's 4th district, pro-life Ander Crenshaw (R), former president of the state Senate, replaced retiring Rep. Tillie Fowler (R).

Senate
Good news for pro-lifers in the U.S. Senate races were the elections of former Nevada Congressman John Ensign (R), former Nebraska Governor Ben Nelson (D), and former Virginia Governor George Allen (R).

Ensign picked up the seat of retiring pro-abortion Nevada Senator Richard Bryan (D). Nelson won the seat previously held by pro-abortion Democratic Senator Bob Kerrey, who is retiring. Allen defeated two-term incumbent pro-abortion Senator Chuck Robb (D), 52%-48%.

Both Robb and Ensign's opponent, pro-abortion attorney Ed Bernstein, ran aggressive campaigns on abortion against Allen and Ensign. Bernstein aired television ads accusing Ensign of being too radical on abortion, but he was unsuccessful. Ensign prevailed with a comfortable 55% of the vote to only 40% for Bernstein.

George Allen refused to passively accept Robb's mischaracterizations, both of Robb's own position and Allen's. Allen responded with an effective ad of his own, citing the stark difference between his position and Robb's on parental notification, partial-birth abortion, and tax funding of abortion.

For both Robb and Bernstein to lose after running aggressive pro- abortion campaigns may have an impact on the willingness of future pro-abortion candidates to try to use abortion as an issue.

The four pro-life seats lost included those of Pro-life Republican Senators Rod Grams (Mn.) and Spence Abraham (Mi.) who were defeated by pro-abortion opponents, businessman Mark Dayton and Rep. Debbie Stabenow, respectively. In one of the most unusual Senate races of all time, pro-life Senator John Ashcroft (R-Mo.) lost to the late pro-abortion Democratic governor, Mel Carnahan. The understanding was that the governor's widow, Jean, would serve in his stead. In Florida, the seat of retiring pro- life Senator Connie Mack (R) was won by pro-abortion Bill Nelson, Democratic state Insurance Commissioner.

House

Pro-lifers fared exceptionally well in open seats--districts where the incumbent either retired or ran for another office.

What followed the retirement of pro-abortion Rep. Owen Pickett (D-Va.) was a competitive race between pro-life state Senator Ed Schrock (R) and pro-abortion attorney Jody Wagner. Schrock emerged victorious with 52% of the vote.

In Pennsylvania, pro-life Democratic Rep. Ron Klink (Pa.) gave up his seat for an unsuccessful challenge to unseat pro-life Republican Sen. Rick Santorum. Fortunately, Klink's seat remained in pro-life hands. State Sen. Melissa Hart (R) bested pro- abortion state Rep. Terry Van Horne (D), 59% to 41%.

In Missouri, pro-life state Senator Sam Graves captured the seat of retiring Rep. Pat Danner (D), 51% to 47%. Graves's opponent was Pat Danner's son, pro-abortion former state Senator Steve Danner.

Several of the newly elected pro-life Republican members of Congress will take over seats of retiring Republicans who had pro-life or mostly pro-life voting records.

Jeff Flake, former director of the Goldwater Institute, won the seat of Matt Salmon (AZ 1). Businessman Darrell Issa will take over from Ron Packard (CA 48), and state Rep. Adam Putnam replaces pro-life champion Charles Canady (FL 12). At 26, Putnam will have the distinction of being the youngest member of the House.

In Idaho pro-life Lt. Governor Butch Otter takes the seat of Republican Helen Chenoweth (ID 1). In Illinois, pro-life leader in the state legislature Rep. Tim Johnson replaces Tom Ewing (IL 15). Rep. Ed Pease was replaced by his chief of staff, Brian Kerns.

Tom Osborne, former University of Nebraska football coach, received 82% of the vote to represent the seat currently held by Bill Barrett (Neb 3). In Pennsylvania state Rep. Todd Platts takes over from Bill Goodling in the 19th congressional district.

State Rep. Henry Brown replaces Mark Foley (SC 1), and state Rep. John Culberson takes the seat of Bill Archer (TX 7). In Virginia, state Delegate JoAnn Davis replaces the late Herb Bateman (VA 1) and state Delegate Eric Cantor will replace Tom Bliley (VA 7).

In New York's first district, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Felix Grucci will assume the seat currently held by pro-life Democratic Rep. Mike Forbes, a Republican who switched to the Democratic party last year. Forbes lost the Democratic primary to pro-abortion Regina Seltzer, former Brookhaven council member, who in turn lost to Grucci.

The only new pro-life Democrat coming to Congress is Rhode Island Secretary of State Jim Langevin, who replaces pro-life Democratic Rep. Bob Weygand. Weygand waged an unsuccessful challenge to pro-abortion Republican Senator Lincoln Chaffee.

In at least two open seat races, both the Republican and the Democrat were pro- life. State Rep. Todd Akin (R) defeated state Senator Ted House (D) to take over for pro-life Congressman Jim Talent (R) in Missouri's second district. Talent gave up his seat in an unsuccessful gubernatorial run.

In Indiana, pro-life Rep. David McIntosh also gave up his second district seat for an unsuccessful bid for governor. His seat went to radio show host Mike Pence (R), who defeated attorney Bob Rock (D).

Unfortunately, three open pro-life seats were won by pro- abortion candidates. In Utah's second district, pro-life businessman Derek Smith defeated pro-life Rep. Merrill Cook in the June primary. Smith was then defeated by pro-abortion businessman Jim Matheson (D), the son of the popular former governor Scott Matheson.

The seat of retiring Rep. Tom Coburn (R-OK 2) went to pro- abortion Democratic attorney Brad Carson, who defeated pro-life Republican businessman Andy Ewing. In Washington's second district, pro-life state Rep. John Koster (R) lost to pro- abortion county councilman Rick Larsen (D).

Pro-life businessman Mark Kennedy (R) of Minnesota was the only pro-life candidate to defeat a pro-abortion incumbent, beating Rep. David Minge (D) by less than 1%.

Unfortunately, two pro-lifers were defeated by pro-abortion opponents. Arkansas Rep. Jay Dickey (R) was narrowly defeated by state senator Mike Ross (D), 51% to 49%, and Rep. Jim Rogan (R) was defeated by state senator Adam Schiff (D), 53% to 45%.

Pro-Abortion Women

EMILY's List is a pro-abortion PAC which contributes only to pro- abortion female Democratic candidates. EMILY's List touts its success in electing four new senators--Debbie Stabenow in Michigan, Maria Cantwell in Washington, and Hillary Rodham Clinton in New York, and Jean Carnahan in Missouri who was not elected, but, as mentioned previously, will serve in place of her late husband. However EMILY's List's record for winning House seats is dismal.

Nine of its candidates ran against Republican pro-life incumbents or had pro-life opponents in districts whose seats were open. All nine lost.

Attorney Rick Keller defeated Linda Chapin 51%-49% to win the seat of pro-life Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL 8), who lost his bid for Senate.

State Senator Mark Rogers (R-Mi.) defeated a fellow state senator, pro-abortion Democrat Dianne Byrum, to win the 8th district seat held by pro-abortion Rep. Debbie Stabenow (D). Rogers won with a slim 160 votes, or one-half of one percent of the total vote. Byrum has asked for a recount, which will take place in early to mid-December.

In his second try for office, Mike Ferguson (NJ 7) defeated Maryann Connelly to replace Bob Franks. An aggressive campaign was waged against Ferguson for his pro-life views. As part of its attempt to portray Ferguson as "extreme" on pro-life issues, EMILY's List pointed out that Ferguson's wife, Maureen, was a former employee of National Right to Life. Ferguson won 50%-47%.

To follow pro-life Rep. Rick Hill as Montana's lone representative, former Lt. Gov. Denny Rehberg defeated Supt. of Public Instruction Nancy Keenan by a 51%-46% vote. In Ohio's 12th district, State Rep. Pat Tiberi defeated Mary Ellen O 'Shaughnessy, a Columbus City Council member, 53%-44%, to replace retiring pro-life Republican Rep. John Kasich.

Four incumbents with pro-life records, all Republican, also found themselves facing tough EMILY's List opponents. All prevailed.

Rep. Clay Shaw (FL 22) had the toughest race, barely defeating state Rep. Elaine Bloom. They each received 50% of the vote, with Shaw winning by a margin of 602 votes.

Rep. Anne Northup (KY 3) fended off a strong challenge from state Rep. Eleanor Jordan, winning 53% of the vote. Jim Saxton (NJ 3) defeated Susan Bass Levin, mayor of Cherry Hill, with 57%, and Texas Rep. Pete Sessions (TX 5) bested Regina Montoya Coggins, pulling in 54% of the vote.

Governors

Pro-lifers lost one incumbent governor. Pro-life governor Cecil Underwood of West Virginia (R) was defeated in his bid for re- election by pro-abortion Rep. Bob Wise (D). Although Wise voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, he stated during the campaign that he voted against late-term partial-birth abortions, citing his support for a phony bill that would have prohibited no abortions. In a heartbreaking loss, Underwood received 48% to Wise's 50%.

In another tightly contested race, pro-life Montana Lt. Governor Judy Martz (R) defeated pro-abortion state Auditor Mark O'Keefe (D) to win the chief executive's job in Montana with a 51%-48% vote.

In North Dakota, pro-life John Hoeven, president of the Bank of North Dakota, defeated pro-abortion attorney general Heidi Heitkamp by a 55%-45% vote. Heitkamp had been endorsed by EMILY's List. And in New Hampshire, pro-life former U.S. Senator Gordon Humphrey (R) was unsuccessful in his bid to topple pro-abortion Democratic Governor Jeanne Shaheen. Shaheen, another EMILY's List candidate, was re-elected with 49% of the vote to 44% for Humphrey.

Pro-Life Volunteers Provide Increment

We have known for many years that being pro-life often helps a candidate in his or her race. In a typical national race, pro- lifers can deliver at least a 3% to 4% net advantage to the pro- life candidate. This was borne out again this year.

A Wirthlin Worldwide post-election poll, taken November 7, found that 42% of the people said that abortion affected their vote. Twenty-three percent said they voted for pro-life candidates and 19% for pro-abortion candidates.

Nineteen percent wanted to vote for candidates who oppose abortion, and they voted for George Bush. By contrast 16% said they wanted to vote for candidates who favor abortion, and they voted for Al Gore. This gave Gov. Bush a 3% advantage among all those who said that abortion affected their vote.

In a close election, this 3% advantage can make the difference between winning and losing.

The pro-life net advantage - - the increment - - came about even though voters were bombarded with a multi-million dollar advertising campaign against Gov. Bush by abortion supporters. NARAL has run at least six ad campaigns in the last two years, attempting to scare Americans about a Bush presidency. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund reportedly spent over $10 million in just the last few months, much of it on television advertising with an anti-Bush message.

Jane Fonda was the single contributor to "Pro Choice Vote." She gave $11.7 million dollars that underwrote a television campaign featuring Whoopi Goldberg to "educate" voters about George W. Bush and abortion.

Despite the money and tremendous opposition, grassroots pro- lifers conducted an incredible effort to help Gov. Bush, as well as dozens of House and Senate candidates.

Once again, the energy and enthusiasm of thousands of pro-life volunteers all over the country have prevailed. Wonderful and selfless people have given of their time and talents to help save innocent, unborn children, placing their concern for these children above all other issues. Your dedication and sincerity continue to triumph over the seemingly endless dollars spent by our opponents, whose goal was to continue the killing of millions of unborn children by keeping abortion on demand legal.