Planned Parenthood Texas Votes Board of Directors has voted to endorse against incumbent Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. in the March 3 Democratic Primary in Texas Senate District 27. The anti-endorsement is the first in the organization’s 7-year history and shines a light on Sen. Lucio’s destructive anti-women, anti-reproductive rights and anti-LGBTQ record.
“Sen. Lucio has repeatedly voted for and supported extremely dangerous and discriminatory legislation — and his constituents are demanding accountability,” said Dyana Limon-Mercado, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes. “During his three-decades long career, Lucio has voted for every bill that cuts critical reproductive health care access, adding to the devastating health disparities in his community.”
During the 2019 legislative session, Sen. Lucio voted in favor of Senate Bill 22, which prohibits local governments from partnering with Planned Parenthood on critical health care, education and outreach. Sen. Lucio also authored and passed Senate Bill 24 last year, which requires false and misleading information be given to those seeking an abortion in order to shame and coerce them from their decision. SB 24 was one of three anti-abortion priority bills for anti-choice extremist Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.
For the first time since he took office in the early 1990s, Lucio is facing two formidable primary challengers in the race for SD 27. Candidates Sara Stapleton-Barrera, a former trial lawyer, and Ruben Cortez, a member of the State Board of Education, have each pledged 100 percent support for defending Planned Parenthood patients and health centers.
“Over the last 30 years, Sen. Lucio has earned a reputation for doing the dirty work for extremist politicians like Dan Patrick and Greg Abbott — whether it’s attacking immigrant communities, LGBTQ communities or women’s health and reproductive rights,” said Aileen Garza, Rio Grande Valley Youth Organizer for Planned Parenthood Texas Votes. “The Valley deserves someone who truly represents our diverse and welcoming community. We deserve a champion who will fight for all of us.”
Both Stapleton-Barrera and Cortez present a stark contrast to Lucio, who has consistently voted against the LGBTQ community and reproductive rights.In 2013, Lucio voted in favor of the infamous and sweeping anti-abortion bill HB 2, ultimately deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, and in 2017, he was the only Democrat to vote for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s transphobic “bathroom bill.”
For more information on Sen. Lucio’s record, visit www.suciolucio.org.
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Planned Parenthood Texas Votes (PPTV) is the nonpartisan policy, advocacy and political arm for the Planned Parenthood affiliates in Texas.
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