Planned Parenthood Advocacy and Political Groups Endorse Suzan DelBene for Congress
For Immediate Release: July 29, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC – Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest announced today the joint endorsement of Congresswoman Suzan DelBene’s reelection campaign. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the national advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest is the statewide advocacy and political arm for Planned Parenthood affiliates in Washington.
DelBene, a champion for women’s health and reproductive rights, has a 100% on the Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s congressional score card. In an effort to appear more moderate, her likely opponent, Pedro Celis, has downplayed his positions on safe and legal abortion, leaving voters confused, and has been vocal in his support of the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor Hobby Lobby, a position that is deeply unpopular with voters. Ballots dropped earlier this month for the top-two open primary and must be returned by August 5.
“Planned Parenthood Action Fund is proud to again endorse Congresswoman Suzan DelBene,” said Dawn Laguens, executive vice president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “Suzan DelBene understands that health care decisions should be left between a woman and her doctor and has been a critical ally in Washington, DC. She has consistently worked to protect access to quality, affordable health care to ensure 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.”
“There’s no other way to put it: Suzan DelBene is one of the most passionate and proactive advocates for women in the U.S. House of Representatives. From birth control access to equal pay, from affordable health care to reproductive choice, Suzan has been fighting for women nonstop since taking office. She’s only been in office less than two years, but she has already made a name for herself as a friend of women in Congress,” said Elaine Rose, CEO of Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest.
“The recent harmful decision by the Supreme Court to limit women’s access to birth control provides a perfect contrast between Congresswoman DelBene and her likely opponent. While Pedro Celis praised the decision, Suzan was joining with her colleagues to introduce landmark legislation that would guarantee that birth control is never your boss’ business. Planned Parenthood Votes Northwest proudly supports Suzan DelBene’s reelection campaign,” Rose stated.
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 believe that a women and her doctor, not politicians, should be making health care decisions.
- New poll results reveal that access to birth control is a winning issue for an overwhelming majority of women voters, who are closely following the conversation around the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of Hobby Lobby because it is so deeply grounded in their personal lives. Nearly three out of four women say this issue is important to them personally. Emphasizing the important role birth control will play in midterm elections this November, 57 percent of women voters say they would be more likely to support a candidate who opposes allowing employers to refuse to cover birth control. This is especially impactful for young women, African Americans and Latinas.
- 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 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.