|
NRL News
2007
Elections: Subtle Yet Important Changes to Watch While 2007 is considered an “off year” for elections and promises to be much quieter than 2008, politically, changes are taking place. Several states are holding gubernatorial races this year, while in other states, special elections are being held in newly opened seats. On May 22, 2007, pro-life Governor Ernie Fletcher (R) won his primary in Kentucky. Gov. Fletcher will face Steven Beshear (D) on November 6, 2007, in Kentucky’s General Election. Gubernatorial primary races will be held in Louisiana on October 20, 2007, and in Mississippi on August 7, 2007. Four congressional seats have been left vacant due to deaths. In Wyoming, pro-life state Senator and surgeon John Barrasso (R) has been appointed to temporarily fill the seat left open by the recent death of U.S. Senator Craig Thomas (R). A special election will be held in November 2008 to decide who will finish out the last four years of Thomas’s term. Georgia’s 10th Congressional Special Election on June 19, 2007, to replace pro-life Congressman Charlie Norwood (R), resulted in a runoff between state Senator Jim Whitehead (R) who received 44% of the vote and Paul Brown (R) who came in second with 20.7% of the vote. A July 27, 2007, runoff is necessary because no candidate received over 50% of the vote. Both candidates are pro-life. California’s 37th Congressional District held a special election on June 26, 2007, to replace pro-abortion Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald (D). An August 21, 2007, runoff election will be held between the top vote getters from each party: Laura Richardson (D), John Kanaley (R), Daniel Brezenoff (Green), and Herbert Peters (Libertarian). Richardson has been supported by the militantly pro-abortion EMILY’s List, which says it is “looking forward to helping Richardson become the newest pro-choice Democratic woman in Congress!” In addition, pro-abortion Congressman Marty Meehan (D) has resigned as the representative for Massachusetts’ 5th Congressional District, effective June 30, 2007. A special election will be held on September 4, 2007, to determine his replacement. Be sure to watch upcoming editions of NRL News for more news on national elections. |