Critical Governors Races Ahead

By Carol Tobias
NRL PAC Director

Pro-lifers in 36 states will be voting for governor in the fall elections. Fifteen governors are running for re-election while 21 states have retiring or term-limited governors. In several of the races, pro-life issues will be a strong factor in the outcome.

While some governors may be easily re-elected, others will have a tougher time. One of those will be pro-life Wisconsin Governor Scott McCallum (R). McCallum served as lieutenant governor under Gov. Tommy Thompson and took over the chief executive's office when pro-life President George W. Bush tapped Thompson as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Wisconsin Democrats have a September 10 primary to choose from among three nominees, all of whom are pro-abortion.

Pro-life Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) finds himself in a battle with pro-abortion businessman Tony Sanchez (D). Sanchez promotes himself as a Catholic who supports abortion, but that has raised the ire of the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

Bishop Edmond Carmody has banned Sanchez from speaking in any Catholic facilities. Bishop Carmody stated of Catholics who " personally oppose abortion" but support abortion rights, 'That's being schizophrenic about it. "That's saying, 'In my own home, I respect life, but when I'm in public office, I'm going to go with the pack.'"

Another pro-life governor who may have a tough re-election effort is Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R). His opponent, decided in the September 10 Democratic primary, will be pro-abortion former Attorney General Janet Reno or pro-abortion attorney Bill McBride. Because of the role Florida played in the 2000 presidential race, Democrats are determined to defeat the President's brother in his re-election bid.

Pro-abortion governors facing pro-life challengers include Governor Tom Vilsack (D) of Iowa, facing pro-life attorney Doug Gross (R), and California Governor Gray Davis (D), who is being opposed by pro-life businessman Bill Simon (R).

One of the most vulnerable incumbents this year is Alabama Governor Don Siegelman (D). Struggling to keep his job, Siegelman is facing a strong challenge from pro-life Congressman Bob Riley (R).

In Georgia, pro-life state senator Sonny Perdue (R) defeated two other candidates for the opportunity to take on pro-abortion Governor Roy Barnes (D).

Several states with no incumbent governor have candidates with radically different positions on abortion.

Alaska will see pro-life Senator Frank Murkowski (R) facing Lt. Governor Fran Ulmer (D). Ulmer, an outspoken advocate of abortion, has recently stated that abortion will be a defining issue in their race. Murkowski, who has a solid pro-life voting record in the Senate, is hoping to become governor, giving up his Senate seat two years before his term ends.

A major issue facing pro-lifers in Hawaii is assisted suicide. A bill to legalize assisted suicide passed the state House of Representatives, but thankfully was defeated by a 11-14 vote in the state Senate. The bill is expected to be introduced again next year. The likely nominees to come out of the September 21 primary will be Linda Lingle (R), who opposes assisted suicide, and Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono (D), who supports assisted suicide.

Oregon's next governor will be pro-life former state Rep. Kevin Mannix (R) or pro-abortion former state Supreme Court Justice Ted Kulongoski (D). In Arizona, pro-life former Congressman Matt Salmon (R) and pro-abortion Attorney General Janet Napolitano (D) will be the likely September 10 primary winners.

The race to become New Mexico's next governor will be fought out by pro-abortion Bill Richardson (D) and pro-life John Sanchez (R). Richardson is a former congressman and former Energy Secretary and UN ambassador under President Clinton. Sanchez is a state representative who made news two years ago when he won his house seat by defeating the New Mexico Speaker of the House, a 30-year incumbent.

The race to succeed pro-life Governor Bill Janklow (R) in South Dakota will be fought by pro-life businessman and former state senator Mike Rounds (R) and pro-abortion Jim Abbott (D), a former state legislator and president of the University of South Dakota. Janklow is seeking a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Minnesota is one of the few states with a viable three-party ballot. Pro-abortion Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura (I) is not running for re-election. He has endorsed former congressman Tim Penny to replace him on the Independence Party ticket. Penny was pro-life as a member of Congress but has now stated that he has " come to the conclusion that we support the law of the land here... That right to choose will be maintained."

Penny has gone so far as to oppose a 24-hour waiting period during which women seeking an abortion would have time to think about information they have received regarding the abortion procedure. The Republican candidate is pro-life House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty. The Democrat is Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe, a leader of the pro-abortion forces in the Minnesota legislature.
The battle to replace pro-abortion Kansas Governor Bill Graves (R) features pro-life state Treasurer Tim Shallenberger (R) and pro-abortion Insurance Commissioner Kathleen Sebelius (D).

The next governor of Tennessee will be pro-life Congressman Van Hilleary or former Nashville mayor Phil Bredeson.

Pro-life former Congressman Steve Largent won the Republican nomination to succeed pro-life Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating. A September 17 run-off will determine the Democratic nominee, either businessman Vince Orza or state senator Brad Henry, both of whom support abortion.

Some of the toughest gubernatorial battles will be in the large states of Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

Largely due to charges of ethics abuses during his years as Secretary of State, Illinois Governor George Ryan (R) is not running for re-election. However, his "scandal" is doing great damage to the pro-life Republican nominee, current attorney general Jim Ryan. Although the two are not related, voters seem to be confused by the similarity of last names and are punishing Jim Ryan for the alleged abuses committed by George Ryan.

The Democratic nominee is pro-abortion Congressman Rod Blagojevich. During his six years in Congress, Blagojevich voted only once out of 54 votes with the pro-life community. That vote was to establish that neither federal funds nor federal facilities could be used to provide "assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing."

The race in Michigan to replace pro-life Governor John Engler (R) is between pro-life Lt. Gov. Richard Posthumus (R) and pro- abortion attorney general Jennifer Granholm (D). Granholm has been endorsed by EMILY's List, which only supports candidates who oppose all limits on abortion.

Pennsylvania's gubernatorial race is between pro-life attorney general Mike Fisher (R) and pro-abortion former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell (D). Rendell was also head of the Democratic National Committee under President Bill Clinton. Rendell won the Democratic primary by defeating pro-life auditor general Bob Casey, Jr.

Pro-abortion organizations like the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) and Planned Parenthood have targeted this race, mobilizing voters and focusing much energy on it. In the primary, NARAL spent almost $200,000 on TV ads for Rendell.

Following his victory, the executive director of NARAL-Pennsylvania stated, "We need Ed Rendell in the governor's office to counter Pennsylvania's fervently anti-choice state legislature." Rendell's success "was a tremendous victory for Pennsylvania's women, but we must ensure he wins in November if we are to protect the right to choose for future generations."

Pro-lifers work hard to pass pro-life legislation in every state. Having a governor who will support that legislation is critical to the success of those efforts. With 36 governors on the ballot in November, the future of pro-life legislation and the lives of unborn children may well rest on the outcome of these elections.