PRO-LIFERS CELEBRATE GAINS IN STATE LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS

By Mary Balch
Director of State Legislation

While the national press has understandably focused almost all its attention on the gains made by pro-lifers in the United States House and Senate, a closer look reveals that the Movement made crucial gains in a number of state legislatures as well. This is extremely important, for without committed pro-life state legislators it is very difficult to pass protective legislation and/or overcome gubernatorial vetoes.

The results from Texas, Oregon, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Georgia, and West Virginia, examined in this article, are only a representative sample. There were many important trends but none more important than the replacement of seemingly entrenched pro-abortion leaders either by retirement or, more often, defeat at the polls.

In Texas, pro-life forces gained friends in high places after the November 5 elections. Pro-life Governor Rick Perry (R) won re-election and pro-life Lt. Governor David Dewhurst (R) will be presiding over the Senate. This was complemented by the election of pro-life John Cornyn (R) to the U.S. Senate to replace retiring pro-life Sen. Phil Gramm (R).

Significantly, pro-abortionists lost several key legislative allies. Among the defeated are Democratic state Reps. Ann Kitchen (Austin) and Debra Danburg (Houston). With Republicans capturing control of the House, Speaker Pete Laney (D), who prevented many pieces of pro-life legislation from coming to a vote, will probably be replaced by pro-life Rep. Tom Craddick (Midland), the longest serving Republican in the Texas House of Representatives.

"This year looks very promising for passing pro-life legislation," Joe Kral, director of state legislation for Texas Right to Life, told NRL News. "Hopefully, our hard work will pay off in victory."

Oregon also saw pro-life victories attained seemingly against all odds. Redistricting and court decisions regarding term limits hurt pro-life office seekers. In addition there were five special elections.

"While this was not an ordinary year, we are always working with the decks stacked against us," said Lois Anderson, Oregon Right to Life (ORTL) PAC director. "Outspent, and supposedly outnumbered, pro-life candidates and voters are always underestimated."

Anderson pointed out that ORTL PAC gave special emphasis to 16 races in November's election: 10 state House races, four state Senate contests, and two state-wide races. Eleven candidates won, including incumbent U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (R). The majority leader, pro-life champion Karen Minnis (R), will now become the speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives.

Oregon Right to Life was especially excited on election night when House candidate Linda Flores (Clackamas County) won the first race whose outcome was called by the local media. In 2000, Flores's opponent, Jan Lee (who was then running as a Republican) asked for ORTL PAC's help.

In 2001 Lee switched to become an Independent and turned against Oregon Right to Life, working to defeat the Woman's Right to Know bill and pushing Planned Parenthood's priority legislation. This year Flores defeated Lee, who was running this time as a Democrat.

"NARAL spent over a million dollars since January on TV ads, mailings, and telephone calls in a frantic attempt to get its message out to the voters," said Gayle Atteberry, executive director of Oregon Right to Life. After the election, "A leading Democrat political consultant admitted to the Oregonian that their approach--that abortion was a great American right under attack--was not 'getting any traction' with the electorate and they needed to switch messages," she said.

Although new house districts were gerrymandered to make it easier for pro-abortion Democrats to win, they were carried instead by pro-life Republicans. In fact, in spite of all the disadvantages, pro-life candidates actually picked up seats in the Oregon House.

Wisconsin also saw significant pro-life state legislative victories. "The 2002 elections resulted in a net gain of five right to life seats in the state Senate," said Barbara Lyons, executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life.

For example, Sen. Joanne Huelsman (R) was a 20-year legislative veteran who decided to retire when redistricting paired her up against another incumbent. Huelsman did not support the right to life position. "Pro-life Republican Neal Kedzle was overwhelmingly elected to succeed her," Lyons said.

Another veteran pro-abortionist to lose November 5 was Peggy Rosenzweig. Rosenzweig was a member of the state Assembly for 11 years before winning a 1993 special election for the state Senate.

"The defeat of pro-abortion Peggy Rosenzweig by pro-life Tom Reynolds in the Republican primary election and Reynold's big win in the general election November 5 represents another right to life gain," Lyons said. On top of these successes, the wins of Republicans Cathy Stepp and Ron Brown added two more pro-life seats.

Wisconsin Right to Life PAC also applauded the victory of state Representative Joe Leibham, who won the ninth state Senate district contest. Leibham won on election night by a mere 23 votes, and a recount was ordered.

He won again, this time by 46 votes. Leibham, a strong defender of life while in the Assembly, is expected to help further pro-life legislation in the state Senate.

"The election has resulted in a solid right to life majority in the Senate and provided leadership that will treat life-affirming legislation in a fair and timely manner," Lyons said.

Wisconsin's state Assembly, solidly pro-life prior to the election, had a net gain of two pro-life Assembly members.

Pro-lifers in Minnesota also enjoyed hard-earned major victories. In addition to the election of pro-lifer Norm Coleman (R) to the United States Senate, they now have pro-life governor-elect Tim Pawlenty.

Pawlenty's victory was doubly sweet because he defeated the pro-abortion Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe (D), a major barrier to the enactment of pro-life legislation for years.

The work of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) PAC strengthened pro-life majorities in both houses of the legislature.

In helping to elect 10 additional pro-life legislators, MCCL PAC strengthened the already solidly pro-life House. Pro-lifers improved their chances in the state Senate as well by gaining five more seats.

"The people of our state have spoken, and they want change," said Marice Rosenberg, MCCL vice president. "The legislature is now more representative of the pro-life beliefs of Minnesota's vast majority, and we look forward to working together to enact mainstream pro-life legislation."

The November 5 elections in Georgia resulted in a stronger pro-life presence in both the executive and legislative branches in addition to the election of pro-life Saxby Chambliss (R) to replace pro-abortion United States Senator Max Clelland (D). In seeking the office, Republican Governor-elect Sonny Perdue identified himself as pro-life. The GOP has seized control of the state Senate and the new leader of the Senate, Eric Johnson (Savannah), supported pro-life legislation in the past, such as a "Woman's Right to Know" act.

Pro-lifers also note that Tom Murphy (D), dubbed by one political pundit "House Speaker for Life," lost his bid for re-election to pro-lifer Bill Heath. Murphy kept most pro-life bills bottled up in committees.

The top priority for pro-lifers in Georgia is the Woman's Right to Know Act, which would provide women with information on the developing unborn child and alternatives to abortion. It would also provide a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion can be performed so that women can reflect on the information provided.

Perdue is on record in support of the Woman's Right to Know Act. "It asks for women to have the same right, to have the same information available to them when they decide to choose an abortion that they would for a minor surgical procedure," Perdue has said. "I think that's reasonable, I think that should be done. That's the kind of bill that I will support."

West Virginians for Life's non-partisan Political Action Committee endorsed 108 candidates for the general election. Coincidentally, those endorsements were evenly split between Democrats and Republicans--54 each.

Pro-life candidates won 88 of those races--36 Republicans and 52 Democrats. The tremendous success of this year's election will have a profound impact on the legislative process, according to West Virginians for Life.

WVFL was victorious in so many races that pro-abortion forces are left without vocal leaders, especially in the state Senate where only five of 34 senators are pro-abortion. In the state House, pro-lifers increased their majority to 75 out off 100 delegates (the positions of four newcomers are unknown), which leaves only 21 pro-abortionists.

One major obstacle stands in the way of protecting mothers and their unborn children: pro-abortion Governor Bob Wise, who vetoed the Women's Right to Know bill.

"We are working with NRLC attorneys to draft a bill that Wise will not veto but still protect life," reported Karen Cross, West Virginians for Life Executive Director. "We look forward to working with bi-partisan, pro-life majorities in both houses to pass this protective legislation."