Not since 1978 has Minnesota had both senate seats, the Governor’s seat, eight congressional offices, and the entire Minnesota House of Representatives—all on the ballot in November.
All around us, state legislatures and Governor’s offices have eroded people’s most basic rights. From birth control and abortion access to passing discriminatory “bathroom bills” to attacking refugees and immigrants to re-drawing electoral maps that favor Republicans, surrounding states are turning more and more red. It’s time to join the fight to protect our health, our rights, and our communities.
Here’s How We Win
ELECT A GOVERNOR WHO WILL PROTECT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Minnesota is the last state in the Midwest with a Democratic Governor. With a supportive Governor, Minnesota has been able to keep important protections in place. In 2018, we must elect a new Governor who will work for the people of Minnesota—not against them.
Tim Pawlenty has announced that he will run for Governor of Minnesota. After eight years as Governor, Tim Pawlenty left Minnesota with a legacy of extreme laws that limit women’s access to abortion in our state. The Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund will do everything in our power to ensure that the next Governor of Minnesota stands with women and families and will protect our rights to health care, birth control, and safe and legal abortion.
ELECT SENATOR TINA SMITH
Since taking her Senate seat in December 2017, Senator Smith has less than a year in office to make her case to Minnesotans. To keep a pro-women’s health majority in the Senate, Smith must be elected in 2018.
EIGHT CONGRESSIONAL RACES
Early in 2017, U.S. Congressman Tim Walz (MN01) announced his plans to run for Governor of Minnesota and in February 2018, U.S. Congressman Rick Nolan (MN08) announced that he would not seek re-election—leaving two open seats.
We must re-elect Keith Ellison (MN05) and Betty McCollum (MN04), defeat incumbent Reps. Erik Paulsen (MN03) and Jason Lewis (MN02), and hold Reps. Rick Nolan (MN08) and Tim Walz’s (MN01) seats in Greater Minnesota.
In Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsed candidate Angie Craig is a passionate advocate for reproductive rights. Here’s what she has to say: “I support full reproductive rights for women and access to contraception and family planning services. No one should ever come between a woman and her doctor when making these decisions. The dangerous proposals that seek to eliminate contraceptive and family planning services coverage from the ACA guarantee must be stopped, and I will stand against them. I support Planned Parenthood and will continue to fight to protect their funding so that all women – especially those in rural areas – have access to the healthcare services they need.”
THE MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
In February, Planned Parenthood champion Karla Bigham won a special election in Senate District 54. Bigham’s election maintained a one-seat GOP majority in the Minnesota Senate. Bigham’s victory makes one thing clear: in 2018, every vote will matter and nothing can be taken for granted.
While the Minnesota Senate will not be a part of the November 2018 Election, in the Minnesota House, every single representative is on the ballot. That’s right: Every. Single. One. And we can take back take back the majority and install Planned Parenthood champion Melissa Hortman as Speaker of the House if we can swing 11 seats.
Get Involved
Join the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund (the Action Fund) and the Planned Parenthood Minnesota Political Action Fund (the PAC) in the fight for 2018. If candidates don’t stand with us on access to safe and legal abortion, affordable birth control, care at Planned Parenthood, or health care equity, then they don’t deserve to represent us.
Pledge to vote for reproductive health champions in 2018.
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