NRL News
Page 16
November/December 2009
Volume 36
Issue 11-12

Reflections on an Election Year to Remember
BY Karen Cross

It is no exaggeration to suggest that someday the November 2009 off-year elections may be remembered as a turning point in recent U.S. history. Many across the nation are encouraged, others shocked, by the pro-life gubernatorial wins in Virginia and New Jersey.

“This election is a great triumph for unborn children and their mothers, as well as the vulnerable of all ages throughout the commonwealth,” said Olivia Gans, president of Virginia Society for Human Life. Referring to the governor-elect, the lieutenant governor-elect, and the attorney general-elect, Gans added, “We congratulate Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling, and Ken Cuccinelli for their spectacular victories in the election and look forward to working with these stalwart pro-life leaders.”

In addition to the statewide pro-life victories in Virginia, there were many victories “down–ballot” in the races for state delegates. Five pro-abortion delegates were defeated by pro-life challengers. One prevailed by just 16 votes against a pro-abortion NARAL-endorsed candidate in Virginia Beach.

Moreover, while many pro-life incumbents were overwhelmingly re-elected, two won by extremely close margins. The results were particularly significant because in recent years pro-abortionists had won many contests in Virginia, both statewide and locally.

At the same time there were many great victories on election day, there were also a few races where pro-lifers fell short, some by just a few hundred votes.

“These razor-thin margins show yet again how crucial it is to turn out every possible pro-life vote at election time, Gans said. “We can never take a victory for granted. All in all it was one of the most satisfying election nights for the pro-life movement in Virginia in a long time!”

In New Jersey, pro-life Governor-elect Chris Christie (R) defeated pro-abortion incumbent Governor Jon Corzine (D) in a close race. Corzine is a billionaire who poured in tens of millions of his own fortune in an attempt to win a second term.

Anne Perone, Esq., president of New Jersey Committee for Life, said she “is pleased that New Jersey Committee for Life’s State Political Action Committee helped elect the first pro-life Republican to statewide office in more than a decade.” Christie won 49% to 45% percent.

On November 3, the high profile elections in New Jersey and Virginia received massive attention. But there were notable elections elsewhere in the United States that were also very encouraging to pro-lifers.

Pennsylvanians have the privilege of electing judges to statewide appellate courts. The Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation Political Action Committee recommended six candidates to these offices and five of those were elected. Of particular note is the election of Judge Joan Orie Melvin to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

“Attacks were actually made against her on the basis that she was recommended by the state’s ‘anti-choice’ organization,” said Charlene Bashore, Esq., Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation political director. “These efforts clearly backfired on her opponent—they actually solidified pro-life voters behind Judge Melvin and heightened the importance of the election to them.”

Bashore continued, “The spurious attacks against Judge Melvin generated intense interest in her election. It became our PAC’s top priority. Perhaps what made the efforts of her opponent even more deplorable was the fact that he actually had portrayed himself as pro-life in the past!”

On election night, just before delivering his victory speech in New Jersey, Governor-elect Christie thanked National Right to Life PAC and reminded us that “you have a pro-life governor now.” Likewise, in Virginia, Governor-elect McDonnell said, “As your governor, I will be a defender of innocent human life.”

So nice to hear these words from victorious candidates. They know how instrumental pro-lifers were in carrying the day.

Looking to the future, National Right to Life PAC is confident that if we work just as hard in 2010 as we did in 2009, we will hear many more newly elected candidates telling us “you have another pro-life friend in office.”