On June 1st, constituents in New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District will participate in a special election to fill the seat left vacant by Congresswoman Deb Haaland, who was appointed Interior Secretary by President Joe Biden. Early voting commences on May 4th.
The distinctions between the Republican and Democratic candidates for Congress are stark.
State Senator Mark Moores (R) is firmly pro-life. He supports compassionate proposals to protect unborn children and their mothers. A victory for the opposing candidate would result in one fewer vote for Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s radical pro-abortion agenda in the House, and it would bring Republicans one seat closer to retaking control.
In stark contrast, State Representative Melanie Stansbury (D) supports a policy of abortion on demand, which would allow abortion for any reason. Additionally, Stansbury advocates for the use of taxpayer funds to finance abortions. She is endorsed by the nation’s largest abortion provider and EMILY’s List, a pro-abortion political action committee (PAC) that only backs Democratic women who support abortion without limits.
The National Right to Life Committee is engaged in efforts to inform the electorate about the radical pro-abortion stances espoused by Melanie Stansbury. During her tenure in the New Mexico legislature, Stansbury supported legislation that would have permitted abortion throughout the entirety of pregnancy, even in the event that the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision.
The First Congressional District of New Mexico encompasses the majority of central New Mexico, including three-quarters of the city of Albuquerque, which is the largest city in the state. While many political analysts view the district as a secure Democratic stronghold, the outcome of an open seat special election can be unpredictable.
In the 2020 election, the Democratic candidate, Haaland, was reelected with 58% of the vote. However, turnout is expected to be low, as is typical of special elections. This means that the pro-life vote will be particularly influential.
Melanie Stansbury has the endorsement of Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider. Following the announcement of her endorsement by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), Ms. Stansbury tweeted, “I am honored to earn the endorsement of Planned Parenthood! In Congress, I will always fight for women’s rights and the right to choose.” If elected, Ms. Stansbury would align herself with the abortion industry, rather than advocating for the rights of unborn babies and their mothers.
Melanie Stansbury supports numerous pro-abortion policies that the Biden Administration and its allies have been advocating in Congress. These include legislation such as H.R. 1 (the “For the People Act”). The Democratic Party has presented H.R. 1, also known as the “For the People Act,” as a reform of campaign finance laws. However, in reality, the legislation would significantly restrict the rights of organizations like ours to lobby, advocate for, and engage in the political process on behalf of pro-life issues. It would also erode the rights and privacy of our donors and supporters.
The legislative agenda also includes H.R. 5, also known as the “Equality Act.” This bill amends the 1964 Civil Rights Act. H.R. 5 introduces language that could facilitate greater accessibility to abortions, expand taxpayer funding of abortion, and diminish the protections afforded to healthcare providers who oppose participation in abortions.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Stansbury voted in favor of assisted suicide legislation in New Mexico, a decision that drew criticism from pro-life and disability rights groups within the state. Jennifer Popik, J.D., director of Medical Ethics for National Right to Life, expressed concern about the legislation, stating, “This legislation endangers vulnerable populations and opens the door to abuse. This puts a human being at risk of being reduced to a mere statistic in a cost/benefit analysis.”
In contrast, Mark Moores, who has received endorsement from National Right to Life, advocates for pro-life measures. He supports legislation such as the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which aims to safeguard unborn children capable of feeling pain by prohibiting abortion at 20 weeks. Moores also opposes the allocation of federal funds for abortion and taxpayer funding of abortion providers.
National Right to Life anticipates collaborating with Mark Moores to safeguard the most vulnerable members of the human family—unborn children, individuals who require medical assistance, and individuals with disabilities—whose lives are at risk due to abortion or euthanasia.