Election 2018: What Planned Parenthood Supporters Need to Know About the Primary

Reproductive health care is under attack and abortion access is at risk across the country. From Trump’s dangerous and extreme Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh to local lawmakers spending the 2018 Minnesota Legislative Session needlessly attacking reproductive health and rights, we’ve seen it all.

But we’re not just under fire. We’re fired up.

The 2018 midterms mark the first time since 1978 that Minnesota’s entire U.S. Congressional delegation, the state House of Representatives, and the governor’s seat are up for grabs. Now is the time to hold politicians accountable and elect leaders who will fight with us. It’s up to us to take back the power from those who are intent on dividing us and elect reproductive health champions up and down the ballot who will fight to protect our health, rights, and communities.

Here’s How We Win

ELECT A GOVERNOR WHO WILL PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

While the Planned Parenthood Action Fund hasn’t made any endorsements yet, we are committed making sure Minnesota elects a candidate who will fight to protect access to health care and reproductive freedom.

Both Republican candidates, Tim Pawlenty and Jeff Johnson, have extreme anti-abortion views and have said they will support legislation that chips away at Roe v Wade and takes direct aim at access to safe, legal abortion.

ELECT SENATOR TINA SMITH AND REELECT SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR

U.S. Senator Tina Smith is a proven leader who’s dedicated her career to advancing women’s health and rights.

• She has earned a 100 percent score on the Planned Parenthood Action Fund Congressional Scorecard.
• She is endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
• She’s been fighting for Planned Parenthood her whole career—as vice president at Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota; as lieutenant governor of Minnesota; and as U.S. senator—standing up against attacks on our health care from the Trump administration and congressional Republicans.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is a true champion for women and families and longtime reproductive health champion.

• She has earned a 100 percent score on the Planned Parenthood Action Fund Congressional Scorecard.
• She is endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
• She’s stood up for Planned Parenthood patients time after time by voting to make contraception and family planning accessible, protect a person's constitutionally protected right to obtain a safe, legal, and accessible abortion, and fighting against measures to “defund” Planned Parenthood.

EIGHT CONGRESSIONAL RACES

We must re-elect Betty McCollum (MN04), elect Dan Feehan to replace Tim Walz (MN01), elect Angie Craig to defeat incumbent Rep. Jason Lewis (MN02), elect Dean Phillips to defeat incumbent Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN03), and elect pro-Planned Parenthood candidates in MN05 and MN08.

THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

With so many federal candidates, it is important not to overlook the Minnesota House, where we can change the legislative landscape in Minnesota if we pick up just 11 seats in the 2018 elections. We’ve seen what can happen when anti-women’s health lawmakers have the majority in Minnesota, and the Trump administration’s attacks make it critically important for us to have lawmakers who will protect access to health care here at home. To find your candidate, visit our list of endorsed candidates for the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Ready to vote in primary? We sure hope so!