By Karen Cross, National Right to Life Political Director
On Tuesday, August 14, voters in Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin went to the polls to determine their nominees for the November 6 general election.
Today we will focus on the outcomes in Minnesota and Wisconsin:
MINNESOTA
National Right to Life-endorsed Republican state Senator Karin Housley won her primary. Housley will challenge pro-abortion incumbent U.S. Senator Tina Smith, an EMILY’s List* candidate. Smith was chosen to complete the term of pro-abortion Sen. Al Franken (D) who resigned.
Tina Smith supports a policy of abortion on demand, and even voted against the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. She is a co-sponsor of S. 510, a bill that, if enacted, would invalidate nearly all state and federal limitations on abortion. Smith supports the use of tax dollars to pay for abortion, and has stated she opposes the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh as a U.S. Supreme Court justice.
In contrast, Karin Housley is pro-life and will vote to protect unborn children by prohibiting abortion at 20 weeks, a point by which the unborn child is capable of experiencing great pain when being killed by dismemberment of other late abortion methods. She opposes using tax dollars for abortion. Housley has declared her support for the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh. She supports well-qualified Supreme Court nominees who will interpret the Constitution according to its text. The seat is considered likely Democrat.
In Minnesota’s gubernatorial election, pro-life Republican Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson will face pro-abortion Democratic Congressman Tim Walz who resigned his seat to run for governor.
In the open 1st district, pro-life Republican Jim Hagedorn and pro-abortion Democrat Dan Feehan are vying for the seat left vacant with Rep. Walz’s run for governor. The contest is considered a tossup.
Pro-abortion Rep. Rick Nolan (D) is retiring, leaving Minnesota’s 8th congressional district seat open. Pro-life St. Louis County Commissioner Pete Stauber (R) and former Democratic state Rep. Joe Radinovich won their parties’ nominations. The seat is considered a tossup.
WISCONSIN
In Wisconsin, pro-life state Senator Leah Vukmir, an R.N., won the Republican primary. She will take on pro-abortion Senator Tammy Baldwin (D), an EMILY’s List candidate.
Baldwin voted against the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. She is a co-sponsor of S. 510, a bill that, if enacted, would invalidate nearly all state and federal limitations on abortion. Baldwin supports using tax dollars to pay for abortion, and she voted against the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch as a U.S. Supreme Court justice. The seat is considered likely Democrat.
Pro-life Republican Governor Scott Walker is facing a challenge by Democratic state Superintendent Tony Evers. The seat is considered lean Republican.
In pro-life Speaker Paul Ryan’s open seat – Wisconsin’s 1st congressional district – pro-life businessman Bryan Steil (R), endorsed by Wisconsin Right to Life, will face pro-abortion Democrat Randy Bryce, who is endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America. The seat is considered lean Republican.
EMILY’s List is on target to raise and spend $90 million in the 2018 elections. They have more candidates in the 2018 election cycle than ever before.
Next up, on August 21, voters will go to the polls in Alaska and Wyoming. Be sure to look for election updates in future editions of www.nationalrighttolifenews.org.
*EMILY’s List is a radical pro-abortion group that only supports female Democrat candidates that support abortion on demand, and taxpayer funding of abortion on demand, a position not supported by most voters.