Friday, November 29

Planned Parenthood to Blitz GOP Seats, Betting Abortion Fears Can Sway Voters

Planned Parenthood wants to oust GOP incumbents from crucial California congressional seats by highlighting the possibility of a nationwide abortion restriction. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP by means of Getty Images)

Planned Parenthood is preparing a seven-figure project blitz to oust GOP incumbents from California congressional seats, part of a bigger nationwide effort by the reproductive rights group to avoid a Republican bulk from passing abortion limitations, consisting of a nationwide restriction.

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California is targeting 8 districts where citizens mainly backed Republicans in 2022 even as they backed a constitutional change preserving access to abortion and contraceptives. The marketing strategy goes unfavorable by concentrating on each incumbent’s record of voting versus access to abortion and contraceptives. In the past, the group riffed on the “Burn Book” from the 2004 funny “Mean Girls.”

GOP celebration authorities stated they were positive citizens in those districts would take a look at the larger photo and return Republicans to workplace. And one incumbent dismissed the idea that there’s a hazard to reproductive care in the Golden State.

“Access to abortion and other reproductive care aren’t going throughout California,” stated Calvin Moore, a representative for Rep. Ken Calvert of Riverside County. “Congressman Calvert thinks this is a deeply individual concern that ought to be left as much as the states and opposes a nationwide abortion restriction.”

With 52 seats, liberal California might tip the scales for control of the U.S. House this fall. Planned Parenthood has its work cut out for it given that 7 of the seats it is targeting are presently held by Republicans and just one– to be left by Democrat Katie Porter after a not successful quote for U.S. Senate– is open.

According to The Cook Political Report, 4 are toss-up races; Rep. Michelle Steel’s district, primarily in Orange County, leans Republican; and Reps. Kevin Kiley, who represents a district along California’s eastern border, and Young Kim, who represents a district east of Anaheim, are most likely to win.

Abortion has actually shown to be a larger problem for numerous citizens than political experts might have expected. “In much of these seats, I believe citizens appreciate their reproductive flexibilities and they resonate with our message, so we believe we’re going to win,” stated Jodi Hicks, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.

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While Planned Parenthood is concentrated on House races, Hicks stated it is likewise keeping an eye on nearby states. One California branch, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, extends into Reno, Nevada, and its advocacy arm has actually been actively supporting a Nevada tally effort that would constitutionally safeguard Nevadans’ right to abortion.

Nationally, the group prepares to invest $40 million in a minimum of 8 states: Arizona, Georgia, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

In California, Planned Parenthood intends to highlight the record of members of Congress like Kiley, who voted to possibly enforce jail sentences on medical professionals who offer abortions.

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