Voters Send Clear Message: Women’s Health Opponents Don’t Belong in Congress

Washington – Tonight marked a resounding victory for women and their families with the defeat of two anti-women’s health candidates in Missouri and Indiana, with several other key races still outstanding.

“Tonight, voters rejected some of the nation’s most vocal and extreme opponents of access to birth control, safe and legal abortion, and basic health care. Women went to the polls tonight and sent a resounding message to politicians who want to insert themselves into personal health care decisions. Several key races tonight show that there is a political price to pay for demeaning and dismissing women,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

Sen. Claire McCaskill defeated Rep. Todd Akin in Missouri, and Rep. Joe Donnelly defeated Richard Mourdock in Indiana’s U.S. Senate race.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund mobilized thousands of volunteers across the country to defeat anti-women’s health candidates, including door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, and other GOTV efforts.

Women’s health issues have played a defining role in this election and polls consistently show that a majority of Americans – no matter what their political background – support funding for Planned Parenthood’s preventive health care, the federal family planning program, and access to birth control.