Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Political Groups Endorse Maine’s Emily Cain for Congress
For Immediate Release: May 30, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC — Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund announced today the joint endorsement of Emily Cain for Congress. Cain, a strong supporter of women’s health and rights, is running against Troy Jackson in the Democratic primary to fillMaine’s second congressional district vacated by Michael Michaud. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the national advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund is the statewide advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.
Polling released yesterday by Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund PAC shows that access to safe and legal abortion, affordable birth control, and basic health care access are motivating voting issues for Maine voters. According to the poll, a majority (62 percent) of voters in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District prefer a candidate who supports a woman’s right to make personal decisions about abortion, and 78 percent of Democratic women in the state have favorable views of Planned Parenthood advocacy and political organizations. The Maineresults are consistent with national polls that highlight the importance of women’s health issues for voters.
“Planned Parenthood Action Fund is proud to endorse Emily Cain for Congress,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “Emily understands that health care decisions should be left between a woman and her doctor, and she will be a much-needed champion for women in the House of Representatives. She will work to protect access to quality, affordable health care to ensure that all Americans, no matter where they live, or how much money they have, are able to get the care they need, when they need it.”
“Since her first term in the Maine Legislature, Emily has been an outspoken leader and advocate for Maine women. While we are sad to lose her leadership in the Maine Senate, we know that she will make Maine women and families proud as our next representative in Congress. That’s why we proudly stand with Planned Parenthood Action Fund in endorsing Emily Cain for Congress,” said Nicole Clegg, director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund. “The voters in Maine can count on Emily Cain to stand with them here at home and in Washington.”
“As a leading women’s health advocate across the state, Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund is uniquely positioned to talk with voters about issues that impact their health and rights. Women listen and trust us when we share information about where the candidates stand on issues important to their health care, and they can trust Emily Cain. She knows that politicians should not insert themselves into women’s personal health care decisions,” Clegg continued.
Emily Cain has received a 100-percent rating from Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund PAC consistently throughout her tenure in the Maine Legislature. Repeatedly, she has stood up against efforts to restrict access to safe and legal abortion and has been a dependable voice of support for expanding access to health care for women and families. She has ensured access to birth control and protected funding for the preventive services including lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control and STI testing that Planned Parenthood of Northern New England provides to approximately 10,000 women, men and teens every year in Maine.
Earlier this year, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund announced the “Women are Watching” (WAW) campaign to educate voters about candidates’ positions on women’s health. Over the last several years, Planned Parenthood advocacy and political organizations have become a powerful and effective force by educating voters about where their candidates stand on women’s health issues. The majority of Americans andMaine voters believe that a women and her doctor, not politicians, should be making health care decisions.
- Women’s health played the defining role in Terry McAuliffe’s gubernatorial victory last year inVirginia. He won women’s votes by a nine-point margin — matching Obama’s 2012 advantage with Virginia women, beating Obama’s 2008 advantage with Virginia women by two points, and flipping Republican Governor Bob McDonnell's eight-point advantage with women that propelled him to victory in 2009. Notably, 20 percent of Virginia voters said abortion was the most important issue in determining their vote, and McAuliffe won 59 percent of those votes.
- Polling from the 2012 election shows that access to safe and legal abortion, affordable birth control, and basic health care access are motivating voting issues for women, who view them as core economic issues for their families. An overwhelming majority of women voters trust Planned Parenthood’s political and advocacy organizations when they speak out about issues affecting the health of women.
- A 2012 post-election report from the Sunlight Foundation on big winners and losers found that the Action Fund had a 98 percent return on investment — having supported 12 winning candidates and opposed 12 losing candidates.
- Learn more about the “Women are Watching” campaign at: www.womenarewatching.org.