By Karen Cross, National Right to Life Political Director
When Senator Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) announced his retirement on May 13, it meant there are now a total of eight open seats in the U.S. Senate for the 2012 elections.
Kohl’s decision brings to six the total number of pro-abortion Senators who are retiring. In addition to Senator Kohl, Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), and Jim Webb (D-Va.) are not seeking another term.
Two Republican Senators have also announced their retirements. These are pro-life Senator Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.), who has a career 90% pro-life voting record.
So far five House members are giving up their seats to run for these vacated seats. Two are pro-life and three are pro-abortion.
The two pro-lifers are Representatives Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Rick Berg (R-N.D.). The three pro-abortion Representatives are Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirano (D-Hawaii), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).