The nation's leading abortion groups are targeting one of the remaining pro-life Democrats in Congress.
On Monday, a coalition of liberal organizations anchored by NARAL Pro-Choice America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund made an early 2020 endorsement in the Democratic primary for Illinois's 3rd Congressional District. The coalition—including MoveOn.org, Emily's List, the Progressive Change Committee, and Democracy for America—backed Marie Newman over incumbent congressman Dan Lipinski. The endorsements, first reported by Roll Call, signal abortion proponents will mount another push to oust Lipinski after Newman's initial challenge failed in 2018.
Lipinski, a member of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition within the House Democratic caucus, has been a top target for national liberal groups in recent years. The incumbent is one of the lone pro-life Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives and has introduced legislation to prevent taxpayer funding from being used for abortion. Apart from being pro-life, Lipinski also holds traditional views on marriage and has voted against the Affordable Care Act, much to the ire of an increasingly left-leaning Democratic Party.
The groups endorsing Newman, however, specifically focused on abortion when claiming Lipinski was "out of step with the values and principles of his constituents and the Democratic Party."
"Dan Lipinski is dangerously out of touch, and has time and time again refused to stand up for basic values like reproductive freedom, LGBTQ equality, and economic opportunity for every family," Ilyse Hogue, the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said on Monday. "At a time where all of these are on the line, Marie is a champion for the rights and principles that matter to a vast majority of Americans and she will fight for reproductive freedom and equality for all."
A similar argument was made by Stephanie Schriock, the president of EMILY’s List, an organization that prioritizes electing pro-choice women to office.
"In a time when the president and GOP have made it clear that stripping away the fundamental rights of women is at the top of their agenda, we must have a leader to stand up against Trump," Schriock said. "That is not Congressman Dan Lipinski."
Despite being painted as "out of touch," Lipinski has continuously secured reelection in his working-class Chicago district since he succeeded his father to the seat in 2005. Lipinski dispatched Newman by two points in 2018 even though the latter received backing from high-profile national figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.).