Saint Paul, Minnesota — November 6, 2018 — Minnesotans have elected reproductive health care champions Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan to serve as their governor and lieutenant governor. This sent a clear message to the rest of the country that Minnesotans won’t stand for candidates who undermine their health and rights. Jeff Johnson ran his campaign right out of the Trump playbook—attacking Minnesota’s immigrant communities, signaling he would roll back protections for Minnesotans with pre-existing conditions and eliminate public funding for Planned Parenthood patients, and promising to implement one of the most draconian abortion restrictions in the country. Planned Parenthood Minnesota Political Action Fund’s two-million-dollar program reached hundreds of thousands of people across the state to educate them about all that was at stake for women’s health in this election—and Minnesotans spoke loud and clear at the polls.
Statement from Sarah Stoesz, President of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund:
“Today Minnesotans sent a clear message that the divisive Trump-Pence agenda has no place in our state. I am so proud that the Planned Parenthood Action Fund ran our most extensive election program to-date, focused on educating voters—especially young voters—about all that was at stake for women’s health in this election. Our strategy focused on connecting with hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans, online and in person. This cycle, we helped patients become activists and activists become super activists who mobilized their networks to send Tim Walz to the governor's office.
“As a congressman, Tim Walz has always stood up for Planned Parenthood patients and the expert reproductive health care services Planned Parenthood provides to 71,000 Minnesotans across the state each year. Now, we stand ready to work with Governor-elect Walz to advocate for equitable and accessible health care for all Minnesotans.”
Polling shows that 70 percent of Minnesotans believe government funding for services like STD testing, cancer screenings and birth control at Planned Parenthood health centers should either increase or remain the same. In addition, 20 national polls all show overwhelming support for Planned Parenthood. A PerryUndem poll found that even 57% of Trump voters opposed actions that would prohibit women from accessing birth control, well-woman care, and cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood health centers.
That’s why Planned Parenthood Minnesota Political Action Fund ran its largest grassroots campaign ever in Minnesota, investing $2 million to reach voters in person, online, and on the phone. The Action Fund communicated directly with hundreds of thousands of voters about what’s at stake.
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Founded in 1992, the Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization. As the advocacy and electoral arm of PPMNS, we mobilize supporters of all parties to defend and increase access to family planning services and fact based, medically accurate sexuality education. We work to inspire and engage citizens to take up the cause of reproductive health and rights through education, electoral activity, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy.
Tags: minnesota