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NRL News
Voters in Ohio and Virginia Elect Voters in special elections in Ohio and Virginia went to the polls December 11 and elected two pro-life candidates to Congress. Both Ohio state Representative Bob Latta (R) and Virginia state Delegate Rob Wittman (R) received the endorsements of National Right to Life PAC. Latta succeeds the late Rep. Paul Gillmor (R), who died unexpectedly in September. First elected to Congress in 1988, Gillmor was a longtime pro-life representative. Gillmor received a 100% score from National Right to Life for the 110th Congress. He has been missed. Latta defeated pro-abortion Democrat Robin Weirauch, who has never held political office and was making her third try at the seat. Latta’s 14 percentage-point margin—57% to 43%—reflected a number of forces, including a major push by pro-life organizations. Many political observers had speculated that the final tally for the race in Ohio’s 5th congressional district would be much closer. Though historically a conservative district, the contest garnered national attention in part because of the intensity of the Republican primary and in part because of the involvement of national political groups. For example, EMILY’s List, a wealthy political action committee which only supports candidates who support extreme policies of abortion on demand, backed Weirauch. NRL PAC was joined by Ohio Right to Life PAC in supporting Latta. Republican Rob Wittman won election in Virginia’s 1st congressional district by an even greater margin. Wittman defeated pro-abortion Democrat Philip Forgit, 63% to 35%. Campaigning in a strongly pro-life district, Forgit called himself pro-life but without promising to work to restore legal protection to unborn children. By contrast, Wittman shared that he was adopted and might not even be alive today had abortion been legal in 1959. He pledged to work to restore legal protection to unborn children. National Right to Life PAC was joined by the Virginia Society for Human Life Political Action Committee in endorsing Wittman. Wittman succeeds the late Rep. Jo Ann Davis, who died in October after a two-year battle with breast cancer. One of the first women elected to Congress from Virginia, Davis was also strongly pro-life. Both Latta and Wittman have been sworn in to serve for the remainder of the 110th Congress and will run for reelection next November. The victories of two true pro-life advocates are welcome news to those in the pro-life movement. Several pro-life representatives and senators have announced their retirements in recent months. Ohioans and Virginians have voted their pro-life convictions and retained pro-life leaders, so that we can work to strengthen pro-life representation in Congress next year. In 2008 pro-life voters across the country will have opportunities to continue to send pro-life leaders to Congress. |