Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski (Ill.) is listed as one of the speakers for the annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., later this month, after skipping last year's rally amid a heated reelection battle.
Lipinski, who faced scrutiny from pro-choice Democrats during the 2018 Democratic primary in Illinois' Third District for his pro-life stance, will be joined by two other lawmakers, Sen. Steve Daines (R., Mont.) and Rep. Christopher Smith (R., N.J.), at the anti-abortion rally, Roll Call reported Tuesday.
The Illinois Democrat is one of the last remaining pro-life Democrats in the House and has attended the annual march in the past. He was initially slated to speak last year, but claims he canceled due to President Donald Trump being added to the program at the last minute. Lipinski attended the Chicago March for Life in place of the national pro-life rally.
In addition to his opposition to Trump, Lipinski was facing a competitive primary challenge from the left in the form of marketing consultant Marie Newman. NARAL Pro-Choice America, the Human Rights Campaign, Service Employee International Union, MoveOn.org, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and EMILY's List all endorsed her, according to Roll Call.
Newman tried to paint Lipinski as a "Trump Democrat" during the primary. NARAL Pro-Choice America, the Human Rights Campaign, Service Employee International Union, MoveOn.org, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and EMILY's List partnered on a joint independent expenditure program that attacked Lipinski. "You can't fight Trump when you agree with them," the narrator said in one of the super PAC's TV ads.
Lipinski narrowly survived the primary, defeating Newman 51 percent to 49 percent. He benefited from super PAC spending on his behalf, too, as well as from strong local connections in the Chicago area. He had been handpicked to succeed his father in 2004, which meant a Lipinski had been on the ballot for nearly 36 years.
After conceding the race, Newman's campaign said she would continue to "fight to oust Lipinski in 2020."
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee initially withheld its endorsement last February, but the group reversed its decision the next month and declared its support for Lipinski. Democratic Reps. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.) and Luis Guitierrez (Ill.) supported his primary opponent, as did Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.).