By Karen Cross, NRL Political Director
Alabama
In the Alabama GOP primary for U.S. Senate, former Congressional staffer Katie Britt was declared the victor over Congressman Mo Brooks. With 99% of the vote in, Britt won the runoff election by a 63% to 37% margin. Britt is pro-life, saying on her campaign website, “As a Christian, wife and mother, I am 100%, unapologetically pro-life.” Britt faces Democrat Will Boyd in the general election. Boyd, a perennial candidate in Alabama politics, has tried to have it both ways on the issue of abortion but on his campaign website, he expresses veiled support for funding of abortion providers.
In Alabama’s 5th Congressional District, Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong won the GOP primary runoff over Casey Wardynski, Superintendent for Huntsville City Schools and former Assistant Secretary of the Army. Strong is pro-life and states on his campaign website, “I am a pro-life Christian who will stand up for the unborn.” Strong will face pro-abortion Democrat Kathy Warner-Stanton in the general election. Warner-Stanton supports a policy of abortion on demand and says she would vote in favor of the extreme Women’s Health Protection Act, which really should be called “Abortion Without Limits Until Birth Act” because it would enshrine abortion in federal law and policies, and it would tear down pro-life protections on the state level including parental involvement and informed consent laws.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia, which surprised many political observers in 2021 when it elected pro-life Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin just one year after voting for pro-abortion President Joe Biden, has several Congressional seats that could flip from pro-abortion to pro-life in 2022. On Tuesday in Virginia’s 2nd District, State Senator Jen Kigganswon the Republican nomination. On her campaign website states, “Jen has been a fierce champion for the unborn and a lifelong defender of our pro-life values as a mother, nurse practitioner, and State Senator. In the Legislature, Jen has stood up against Democrats’ attempts to expand abortion access and force taxpayers to foot the bill for abortions in the Commonwealth.” By contrast, Kiggans’ general election opponent, incumbent Democrat Rep. Elaine Luria supports a policy of abortion on demand, which would allow abortion for any reason. Luria voted in favor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which really should be called “Abortion Without Limits Until Birth Act” because it would enshrine abortion in federal law and policies, and it would tear down pro-life protections on the state level.
In Virginia’s 7th District, Prince William County Supervisor and former police officer Yesli Vega won the Republican nomination. Vega is pro-life and notes on her campaign website, “Our founding document says that life is a human right given to us by our Creator. I believe this statement and believe that every life is precious which is why I’m proudly pro-life.”Vega will take on incumbent Democrat Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who supports a policy of abortion on demand, which would allow abortion for any reason.Spanberger, like Luria, voted in favor of the “Abortion Without Limits Until Birth Act.”
Virginia’s 10th District, currently held by pro-abortion Democrat Rep. Jennifer Wexton, is a third Congressional district that could flip in November. (In Virginia, party nominees can alsoselected by convention rather than a primary election, which was the case in this district.) Hung Cao, a Vietnam refugee and Navy veteran, secured the Republican nomination to take on Rep. Wexton. Cao is pro-life and states on his campaign website, “Every pre-born child is a human being deserving of protection as the most vulnerable members of our society. As the parent of an adopted child, I know there are many wonderful Americans yearning to welcome a child into their home and love them. I have dedicated a lifetime to protect ALL Americans, born or unborn.”Rep. Wexton supports a policy of abortion on demand, which would allow abortion for any reason. She also voted in favor of the “Abortion Without Limits Until Birth” bill. Recently, Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia moved the race from Safe Democrat to Likely Democrat.
Georgia
Several Congressional runoff elections took place in the state of Georgia on Tuesday.
In Georgia’s 2nd District, attorney and developer Chris West defeated Jeremy Hunt, a former U.S. Army Captain for the Republican nomination. West is certified pro-life by Georgia Life Alliance, the Georgia state affiliate of National Right to Life. “In Congress, I will ALWAYS stand up to protect and defend the most vulnerable among us and celebrate God’s gift of life!” tweeted West. In November, West could flip the seat from pro-abortion to pro-life by defeating incumbent Democrat Rep. Sanford Bishop, Jr. Due to redistricting, the district became slightly redder with a partisan lean of just D+4, putting it into tossup territory. Bishop supports a policy of abortion on demand, which would allow abortion for any reason. He also voted in favor of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which really should be called “Abortion Without Limits Until Birth Act” because it would enshrine abortion in federal law and policies, and it would tear down pro-life protections on the state level.
In Georgia’s 6th District, pro-life emergency room physician Rich McCormick won the Republican nomination. McCormick only narrowly lost a Congressional bid in 2020 against pro-abortion Democrat Carolyn Bourdeaux. Running in the new boundaries of the 6th District after redistricting, McCormick is highly favored to win in November. The new partisan lean of the district is R+24. He faces pro-abortion Democrat Bob Christian.
In Georgia’s 10th District, pro-life businessman Mike Collins defeated former state representative Vernon Jones for the Republican nomination. Jones, a former Democrat-turned-Republican, who now claims a pro-life position had previously voted against pro-life proposals in Georgia. That record ultimately hurt him in the Republican primary. In the general election, which the Cook Political Report labels “Safe Republican,” Collins will face Democrat Tabitha Johnson-Green.