Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio Endorses Final Round of Candidates in 2020 Elections

Contact: Stephanie Kollmann Baker, [email protected], | 614-969-9470

For Immediate Release: Sept. 18, 2020 (Updated: Sept. 18, 2020, 4:19 p.m.)

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio Endorses Final Round of Candidates in 2020 Elections

Columbus, OH – Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio (PPAO) is excited to announce their third and final round of endorsed candidates in 2020.

For years, Planned Parenthood has been under siege from state and national-level elected officials trying to limit or outright eliminate access to reproductive health care, including safe and legal abortion and comprehensive sexual health education. Reproductive health access is not the only problem affecting our communities right now. There is an urgent need for action around issues like criminal justice reform, affordable housing, COVID relief, education funding, and the ongoing public health crisis that is racism. Ohioans deserve leaders at all levels of government who will protect our rights and fight for fairer, more just systems. We’re proud to stand with these candidates, who will fight for all Ohioans and their families.

Statement from Bridgette Tupes, Board Chair at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio:

“We know Ohioans are struggling—whether it’s a struggle to access health care, pay their rent, navigate the COVID crisis, or the struggle to protect their family against the impacts of institutional racism. And Republicans in the state house are failing across the board to address these issues. This election offers an important opportunity to change our state’s direction by electing leaders at every level of government who reflect the values we know the majority of Ohioans support. We need elected officials who our patients, supporters, and the communities we serve can count on to fight with us on the issues we all care about.”

Our endorsed county candidates:

Charmaine McGuffey for Hamilton County Sheriff

Fanon Rucker for Hamilton County Prosecutor

Alicia Reece for Hamilton County Commissioner

Gary Tyack for Franklin County Prosecutor

Kathleen Clyde for Portage County Commissioner

John Kennedy for Portage County Commissioner

Mike Navarre for Lucas County Sheriff

Kandy Fatheree for Summit County Sheriff

Rita Darrow for Summit County Council District 1

Jennifer Branch for Hamilton County Common Pleas Court

These endorsed candidates represent communities all over Ohio that benefit from access to sexual and reproductive health care and education. PPAO represents 23 health centers in both of Ohio’s Planned Parenthood affiliates, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio and Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region. More than 80,000 patients received services from Planned Parenthood health centers in Ohio last year.

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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio supports advocacy for reproductive health and reproductive rights, including grassroots organizing, community education, and lobbying. www.ppao.org