Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund PAC Endorses Reproductive Rights Champion Candidates for Executive Council

CONCORD - The Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund PAC announced today it has endorsed five candidates for New Hampshire Executive Council who have pledged to protect Granite Staters’ reproductive rights on the Council or have a strong record of doing so:

District 1: Councilor Mike Cryans

District 2: Cinde Warmington

District 3: Mindi Messmer

District 4: Mark MacKenzie

District 5: Councilor Debora Pignatelli

Incumbent Councilors Mike Cryans and Debora Pignatelli have consistently been strong champions for reproductive and sexual health care access and have used their voice and their vote to educate and advocate for the importance of protecting family planning funding. Cryans and Pignatelli were critical votes in opposition to a nominee for chief justice of the NH Supreme Court who is hostile towards abortion rights. 

Candidates Cinde Warmington, Mindi Messmer, and Mark MacKenzie have campaigned on the importance of protecting reproductive rights on the Council, and PPNHAF PAC looks forward to them continuing to uplift this critical issue before the General Election.

In stark contrast, all other candidates in these races are vocal opponents of abortion rights, are openly “pro-life”, and have said they will oppose Planned Parenthood of Northern New England’s (PPNNE) family planning contracts if elected; three of them -- Joe Kenny, Ted Gatsas, and Dave Wheeler -- have voted against those contracts in the past. 

Statement from Skip Small, PPNHAF PAC Advisory Board Chair:

“Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund PAC is proud to endorse this strong slate of candidates for the New Hampshire Executive Council. Councilors Mike Cryans and Debora Pignatelli both have a strong history of standing up for access to reproductive health care on the Executive Council, and Cinde Warmington, Mindi Messmer, and Mark MacKenzie have all pledged to protect Granite Staters’ reproductive rights if elected.

“The Executive Council, which approves judicial nominees and contracts, is the last line of defense against attacks on the constitutional right to abortion and efforts to defund PPNNE health centers. Currently, there is a vacancy for NH Supreme Court Chief Justice. It's critical that judges serving on New Hampshire's courts understand the importance of upholding reproductive rights.” 

PPNHAF PAC’s endorsement comes as reproductive health care is under siege in New Hampshire and nationwide. The Trump administration forced Planned Parenthood out of the Title X family planning program, putting access to birth control, STI testing & treatment, and cancer screenings for more than 16,000 in New Hampshire and 4 million nationwide. Now, all of these endorsed candidates’ opponents have made it their mission to strip away family planning funding for PPNNE in New Hampshire. 

Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues to appoint a record number of young ultraconservative judges, including U.S. Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, with the goal of overturning Roe v. Wade. In New Hampshire, the Executive Council is the final backstop against extreme judicial nominees, approving or rejecting the Governor’s selections. 

Support for abortion rights in New Hampshire is higher than almost anywhere else in the country, and support for Roe v. Wade is at a record national high of 77%. The vast majority of people, especially Granite Staters, believe that personal, private medical decisions should be between a patient and their doctor, not politicians.

Planned Parenthood supporters will continue to educate voters about the Executive Council’s essential role in protecting Granite Staters’ reproductive rights and these candidates’ plans to protect those rights on the Council.

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Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (PPNHAF) is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in New Hampshire. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy. The Action Fund makes independent expenditures on behalf of or in opposition to targeted candidates for public office. Follow us on Twitter.  PPNHAF maintains a separate, segregated political committee and fund to make direct campaign contributions to endorsed candidates (the PAC). Follow PPNHAF PAC on Twitter. 

Understanding and explaining the different Planned Parenthood entities in New Hampshire:

Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) is the largest provider of reproductive and sexual health care for women, men and young people across the State of New Hampshire. It serves New Hampshire residents through 6 health centers in Claremont, Derry, Exeter, Keene, Manchester and White River Junction, VT. Last year more than 14,000 patients were served at these sites. PPNNE has been a community-based family planning provider receiving funding from NH Department of Health and Human Services for nearly 50 years. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization PPNNE cannot support political candidates or engage in any electoral activities.

Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund (PPNHAF) is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England in New Hampshire. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy. The Action Fund makes independent expenditures on behalf of or in opposition to targeted candidates for public office. PPNHAF maintains a separate, segregated political committee and fund to make direct campaign contributions to endorsed candidates (the PAC).

Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund PAC is the political committee that makes candidate endorsements and gives financial contributions directly to candidates.