NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri Announces First Round of Endorsed Candidates for 2006
(St. Louis) At an “Election Season Kickoff Party” in St. Louis today NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri presented the first round of candidates that it supports in the 2006 election cycle.
As the political arm of the pro-choice movement in Missouri, NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri endorses candidates who will work to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices including preventing unintended pregnancy, choosing legal abortion, and having a healthy pregnancy.
The following St. Louis area candidates are included in NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri’s first round of 2006 endorsements:
Sen. Rita Days (Senate 14)
Sen. Joan Bray (Senate 24)
Rep. Rodney Hubbard (House 58)
Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford (House 59)
Rep. Connie Johnson (House 61)
Rep. Robin Wright Jones (House 63)
Rep. Rachel Storch (House 64)
Rep. John Bowman (House 70)
Rep. Esther Haywood (House 71)
Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal (House 72)
Rep. Margaret Donnelly (House 73)
Ingrid Owens (House 74)
Rep. Sam Page (House 82)
Jake Zimmerman (House 83)
Martha “Marty” Ott (House 86)
Martin Komo II (House 90)
Beverly White (House 92)
Genevieve Frank (House 93)
Rep. Jane Bogetto (House 94)
Judi Parker (House 95)
Rep. Michael Frame (House 105)
As a statewide organization dedicated to protecting the right to choose through grassroots and electoral politics, NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri endorses candidates for the Missouri General Assembly as well as statewide elected positions.
At the event Pamela Sumners, NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri’s executive director, spoke on the importance of electing pro-choice candidates. “It’s no secret that the path the Supreme Court is on—with a case involving the Federal Abortion Ban being heard this term—means that states, and not the women who live in them, will choose when and whether to terminate a pregnancy, and in what circumstances.”
Speaking to a group of over 100 supporters, Sumners continued, “Missouri is standing at constitutional ground zero, but Missouri is still standing. And we need your help to stand up to Missouri Right to Life, Matt Blunt, and a band of renegade right-wing legislators who do not care that most Missourians think pharmacists have a duty to do their job of filling prescriptions, think abstinence-only sex education defies common sense, and do not believe abortion should be criminalized. Our Governor has publicly equated birth control with abortion and wants to get rid of both.”
Over the past year, NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri has been instrumental in winning two seats in special elections in districts that had been held by anti-choice legislators. In 2006 the group hopes to elect as many as five new pro-choice legislators and to help assure the re-election of pro-choice incumbents.
Contact: Pamela Sumners, Esq. Executive Director at 314-531-8616 or 312-213-1725
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Over 100 pro-choice Missourians attended the event.
Ingrid Owens is the pro-choice candidate in house district 74.
Pro-choice candidate in house district 83 Jake Zimmerman and Linda Biggs.
Pro-choice representatives Michael Frame (H-105), Maria Chappelle-Nadal (H-72), and Jeanette Mott Oxford (H-59).
NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri board members Lisa Pestronk and Jennifer Plaat.
Pro-choice representative Maria Chappelle-Nadal (H-72).
Pro-choice representative Jane Bogetto (H-94).
NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri PAC chair Dianne Modrell announces the endorsements.
NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri interns working at the event.
NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri board member Denise Lieberman with pro-choice candidate Gen Frank (H-93).
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