NH State Primary Tees Up General Election Fight for Future of Abortion Access in NH
Safe, Legal Abortion Is On the Ballot in November
For Immediate Release: Sept. 14, 2022
CONCORD - Results from New Hampshire’s State Primary set the stage for a fight for abortion rights, as voters in the November 8 General Election will elect state and federal legislators with unprecedented power to control our bodies and our future.
On the heels of the latest defunding of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, the PPNHAF PAC endorsed Executive Branch candidates, including incumbent Cinde Warmington for Executive Council in District 2. Councilor Warmington won a decisive victory in her primary election by highlighting her commitment to sexual and reproductive health and her consistent advocacy for healthier communities during her tenure on the Executive Council.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsed candidates Sen. Maggie Hassan, Rep. Annie Kuster, and Rep. Chris Pappas will all face general election candidates who have pledged to further erode our fundamental rights — a priority of anti-abortion politicians who introduced a nationwide abortion ban just this week.
Consistent with the trends across the country, New Hampshire voters are engaging in the reproductive rights movement in record numbers. Granite Staters are concerned about the future of legal abortion and motivated by extremist candidates who want to restrict reproductive freedom.
Statement from Kayla Montgomery, VP of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund:
“Since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, one in three American women have lost access to legal abortion in their home state. While abortion remains safe and legal before 24 weeks in New Hampshire, we know the future of access depends upon each election.
Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund congratulates the reproductive health champions who won their primaries yesterday - including Senator Maggie Hassan, Congresswoman Kuster, Congressman Pappas, Dr. Tom Sherman, and Councilor Cinde Warmington - and looks forward to educating Granite Staters about the impact of their vote this November.
Voters are at a clear crossroad: give extreme anti-abortion candidates power to further restrict access to abortion – and even birth control – in New Hampshire and nationwide, or elect leaders who will protect their fundamental rights of bodily autonomy and privacy.
New Hampshire has a strong, proud bipartisan history of protecting reproductive freedom. But we are the only state in New England without protections for abortion rights. To change that, we must elect leaders at every level who are committed to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom - no matter what.”
BACKGROUND:
PPNHAF PAC Endorsements:
The Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund PAC made endorsements in the following New Hampshire Executive Branch races:
- Dr. Tom Sherman for Governor
- Dana Hilliard for Executive Council District 1
- Cinde Warmington for Executive Council District 2
- Katherine Harake for Executive Council District 3
- Kevin Cavanaugh for Executive Council District 4
- Shoshanna Kelly for Executive Council District 5
Endorsements in the state Senate are coming later this week.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund (federal) Endorsements:
The Planned Parenthood Action Fund has endorsed the following federal candidates:
- Maggie Hassan for U.S. Senate
- Annie Kuster for U.S. House of Representatives
- Chris Pappas for U.S. House of Representatives
The candidates running against Planned Parenthood Action Fund/Planned Parenthood NH Action Fund PAC endorsed candidates cannot be trusted to safeguard sexual and reproductive health in a post-Roe world.
Chris Sununu:
On June 25, 2021, Sununu signed New Hampshire’s first abortion ban in modern history into law. Sununu’s abortion ban criminalized doctors, required forced ultrasounds for all people seeking abortion care, and failed to make exemptions for rape, incest, or fatal fetal diagnoses. In 2020, Sununu vetoed the Reproductive Health Parity Act, which would have removed financial barriers for people seeking access to abortion. As Governor, Sununu signed a budget that underfunded the Family Planning Program and silently watched his Republican colleagues gut that program by rejecting contracts with three reproductive health providers, including PPNNE. In 2015, then Executive Councilor Chris Sununu cast the deciding vote to defund Planned Parenthood health centers in New Hampshire, jeopardizing access to family planning care for thousands of Granite Staters. In 2018, Sununu put his full support behind Justice Kavanaugh. This appointment led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade this June.
Executive Councilors:
Councilors Kenney, Stevens, Gatsas, and Wheeler voted against family planning contracts every single opportunity they have had, including four times in less than a year (July 2022, January 2022, December 2021, and September 2021). Joe Kenney, Ted Gatsas, and Dave Wheeler have voted against these contracts prior to 2021, as well.
US Senate:
Don Bolduc is an extreme candidate who could put us one vote closer to a federal abortion ban. He praised the overturning of Roe v. Wade and believes states should be able to ban abortion, leaving us vulnerable to the whims of New Hampshire politicians. Bolduc is out-of-step with Granite Staters and would put his partisan views ahead of our health. He’s advocated for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, putting health care for nearly 118,000 Granite Staters at risk, and has said he doesn’t support funding for Planned Parenthood at the state or federal level: “Planned Parenthood is not the way we need to go.”
NH Congressional District 1:
Karoline Leavitt is an extreme candidate who doesn’t believe abortion is about women’s health. Republican CD 1 Candidate Karoline Leavitt has repeatedly expressed anti-abortion opinions and has stated that she does not believe abortion is about women’s health or reproductive rights. In a September debate, Leavitt bragged: “I’m one of the few candidates in this race to publicly applaud the overturning of Roe v Wade.”
NH Congressional District 2:
Bob Burns is an extreme candidate who supports a nationwide ban on abortion. Bob Burns has bragged about being the most “pro-life” candidate and has said he would support a federal 6-week abortion ban, which would effectively outlaw abortion across the country. Bob Burns erroneously believes birth control is dangerous.
###
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.
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 across the State of New Hampshire. We serve New Hampshire residents through 5 health centers in Derry, Exeter, Keene, Manchester and White River Junction, VT. Last fiscal year we saw more than 11,000 patients at these sites. PPNNE was named a 2021 Guardian of Excellence Award® winner by Press Ganey, the national leader in health care consumer and workforce engagement. Press Ganey recognizes PPNNE as a top-performing health care organization, achieving the 95th percentile or above for performance in patient experience, out of more than 20,000 medical practices.
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