A Pro-Life Guide to 2006’s Key Races
Here are the most competitive races that will determine the composition of the 110th Congress. As matters stand, pro-lifers appear likely to lose ground in both houses of Congress.
Italics denote the more pro-life candidate.
The retirement of strongly pro-abortion Rep. Jim Kolbe, a Republican, is a relief for pro-lifers. From his position as chairman of a key appropriations subcommittee, Kolbe proved a great friend of the international population control movement. His district, however, is likely to go to one of two pro-abortion Democrats. The only pro-lifer in the race, who is likely to get the Republican nomination, is former State Rep. Randy Graf, a Catholic. Pro-life Sen. Jon Kyl, a Republican, also faces a challenge from millionaire Jim Pedersen.
Pro-life
Republican Rick O’Donnell will seek to win the evenly divided suburban
Pro-abortion Rep. John Barrow, a Democrat, faces a rematch against Republican former Rep. Max Burns for a seat that has been made more Republican by a 2005 redistricting bill.
In the
northern
Rep. Mike Sodrel, a pro-life Republican from the southeastern part of the state, faces a re-rematch against Democrat and former Rep. Baron Hill, to whom Sodrel lost in 2002 before defeating him in 2004. While in Congress, Hill amassed a mixed but mostly pro-abortion record.
Pro-abortion Democratic Rep. Leonard Boswell is seriously threatened by the well-funded challenge of state Senate Co-President Jeff Lamberti, a Republican. The Des Moines-area district voted for President Bush in 2004. Meanwhile, the seat of solidly pro-life Republican Rep. Jim Nussle is a top target for the abortion lobby as Nussle leaves it to run for governor.
Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, a pro-life Catholic Republican, will compete with one of two pro-abortion Democrats to replace pro-abortion Sen. Paul Sarbanes in the Senate.
Republican Rep. Joe Schwarz, campaigning as a pro-abortion candidate, won a crowded primary in 2004 in which five pro-lifers split the vote in an open-seat race. Since coming to Congress, the freshman has voted pro-life roughly three-quarters of the time. This year, he faces just one challenger, pro-life former state Rep. Tim Wahlberg, also a Republican. The vote is Aug. 8. In the November general election, the strongly pro-abortion Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow faces re-election, probably against pro-life Republican Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard in one of the closest races in the country.
Pro-lifers have a chance to gain a Senate seat here as Republican Rep. Mark Kennedy seeks to replace retiring pro-abortion Democrat Mark Dayton. His opponent, Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, is a favorite of Emily’s List, which works to elect pro-abortion Democratic women to office. The race to replace Kennedy in Congress is between an outspoken pro-life leader, state Sen. Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, and pro-abortion Democrat and 2004 nominee Patty Wetterling. Democrats gave Wetterling the nomination at a local party convention this month over pro-lifer Elwyn Tinklenberg.
Pro-life Republican Sen. Jim Talent faces a tough challenge from a favorite candidate of the pro-abortion Emily’s list, Democratic State Auditor Claire McCaskill.
Sen. Conrad Burns, a pro-life Republican, is in danger of losing his seat to one of two pro-abortion candidates over his dealings with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, a pro-lifer and the first graduate of the Franciscan University of Steubenville to reach Congress, faces pro-abortion former Lt. Gov. Maxine Moul, a Democrat.
Rep.
Heather Wilson, a Republican who votes pro-life about 80% of the time, faces a
tough re-election against Emily’s list favorite Patricia
Pro-life state Sen. Raymond Meier, R-Utica, will try to succeed retiring pro-abortion Republican Rep. Sherwood Boehlert. Meanwhile, pro-life Rep. John Sweeney, a Republican, will have a strong challenge from Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand.
Although there are five competitive House races, only that of embattled Republican Rep. Bob Ney would change the pro-life composition of the delegation. Ney is safe unless he is indicted in connection with the Jack Abramoff scandal. In the Senate, pro-life Republican incumbent Mike DeWine faces virulently pro-abortion Democratic Rep. Sherrod Brown in a tough race.
Ground
zero for the pro-life battle, the
Pro-abortion
Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee faces a Sept. 12 primary against the pro-life
Republican mayor of
Veteran Rep. John Spratt, one of the most solidly pro-abortion white Democrats in the South, faces a challenge from state Rep. Ralph Norman, R-York.
Ford vs. challengers
The state’s Aug. 3 Republican primary to replace Sen. Bill Frist (l) is between two solid pro-lifers — former Reps. Van Hilleary and Ed Bryant — and Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker, who now claims to be pro-life but has a mixed-record. The winner faces pro-abortion Democratic Rep. Harold Ford in November.
Pro-abortion former Rep. Nick Lampson, a Democrat, is seeking to replace Republican pro-life Rep. Tom DeLay, who will leave Congress in early June. All of the possible Republican replacements for DeLay on the ballot are pro-lifers.
Pro-life industrialist John Raese, a Republican, won the nomination to challenge the aging pro-abortion Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd. Byrd is the clear favorite, but his frailty is so noticeable that he could be beaten or forced out of the race.
One of two pro-life Republicans, either State House Speaker John Gaard or Rep. Terri McCormick, R-Appleton, will face Democratic pro-abortion former county executive Nancy Nussbaum to replace pro-life Republican Rep. Mark Green.
— David Freddoso
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- June 4-10, 2006