ELECTION UPDATE

By Carol Tobias, NRL PAC Director

With little fanfare, two new pro-life members of Congress were sworn in after winning special elections. Pro-life Republican Jeff Miller and pro-life Democrat Stephen Lynch will finish out the remaining term of their predecessors.

On October 16, Miller, a state representative, won an open seat in Florida's first district. The seat had been held by pro-life Congressman Joe Scarborough (R), who resigned to spend more time with his family. Miller won the seat with 66% of the vote in the heavily Republican district.

Also on October 16, state Senator Lynch won the ninth district seat previously held by the late Congressman Joe Moakley (D). In a switch from usual elections, Lynch is pro-life while his opponent, Republican state Senator Jo Ann Sprague, is pro- abortion. Lynch won with 65% of the vote.

Meanwhile, in Arkansas's third district, parties selected their final candidates in an October 16 run-off. The seat became vacant when pro-life Republican Asa Hutchinson resigned to become head of the DEA.

Pro-life optometrist John Boozman defeated pro-life state Senator Gunner DeLay to win the Republican nomination, and state Rep. Mike Hathorn defeated pro-abortion state Rep. Jo Carson for the Democratic nomination.

Although Hathorn is campaigning in this conservative district as opposed to abortion, he says that abortion should be "legal but rare" and opposes the complete reversal of Roe v. Wade. Boozman and Hathorn will face each other in a November 20 election.

As expected, pro-life South Carolina state Senator Joe Wilson won the Republican nomination October 30 to replace the late Congressman Floyd Spence (R).

Wilson received 75% of the vote, defeating four other candidates in the second district race. Financial consultant Brent Weaver had no opposition for the Democratic nomination. The general election in this heavily Republican district will be December 18.

In Oklahoma, pro-life Congressman Steve Largent (R) is resigning his first district seat to run for governor. The primary to select his successor will be held December 11.

If no candidate receives 50% of the vote, a run-off election would be necessary and would be held January 8. Under that scenario, the general election would be held February 12. If no run-off is necessary, the general election will take place January 8.

Republican candidates are pro-life Cathy Keating, wife of Governor Frank Keating; pro-life state Rep. John Sullivan; and pro-life state Senator Scott Pruitt. The likely Democratic nominee is pro-abortion Doug Dodd, an attorney and member of the Tulsa school board.

In heartbreaking losses for pro-lifers, pro-life candidates lost gubernatorial races in both New Jersey and Virginia November 6.

Pro-life Bret Schundler (R), the former mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, lost to pro-abortion Jim McGreevey (D), the mayor of Woodbridge. Although several factors contributed to Schundler's loss, one particular factor was the refusal of acting Republican Governor Donald DiFrancesco to endorse Schundler. Some Republicans in New Jersey refused to support Schundler because of his position on issues such as abortion.

In Virginia, long-time pro-life champion Mark Earley (R) lost to pro-abortion businessman Mark Warner (D). Warner spent approximately $5 million of his own money during the campaign. Warner ran TV ads continuously throughout the summer and fall, easily outspending Earley, who is a former state senator and attorney general.

One bright spot for Virginia was the election of pro-life attorney Jerry Kilgore as attorney general. Kilgore defeated pro- abortion state delegate Donald McEachin by a 60%-40% margin.