Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorses Slate of Reproductive Freedom Champions to Represent New York in the US House of Representatives
For Immediate Release: July 31, 2020
Contact: [email protected]
Four Candidates Earn Endorsements from Nation’s Leading Pro-Choice Advocacy Group
NARAL Pro-Choice America today announced its endorsement of four candidates to represent New York in Congress ahead of the November general election: Nancy Goroff (NY-01), Mondaire Jones (NY-17), Tedra Cobb (NY-21), and Dana Balter (NY-24).
“With so much at stake in 2020 for reproductive freedom and our democracy, securing and further expanding the pro-choice majority in the House of Representatives is critical,” said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “NARAL is proud to endorse these candidates. We know that they will champion New Yorkers’ values as they fight for reproductive freedom and ensure that every body is free to make their own decisions about their families and their futures.”
“I am honored to receive the endorsement of NARAL and to have their support in this critically important race to flip New York’s 1st Congressional District,” said Nancy Goroff. “Our current representative, Lee Zeldin, has proven to be a radical opponent of women’s reproductive health, having gone so far to sign an amicus brief to the Supreme Court urging that they overturn Roe v. Wade. Zeldin’s anti-choice voting and actions are completely out of step in Suffolk County, and major reasons that we will vote him out in November. Now more than ever, we need to elect leaders who will support women’s reproductive health. As a scientist and leader in Suffolk County, I am ready to hold Zeldin accountable, and I am so excited to have NARAL’s support in this fight. “
“I’m honored to be endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America, an organization that has fought tirelessly for decades so that every woman not only has the right to choose, but also has quality, affordable health care,” said NY-17 Democratic Nominee Mondaire Jones. “My Republican opponent said she got into this race because reproductive freedom has ‘gone too far,’ and she staunchly opposes a woman’s right to choose. We need more people in Congress who will protect women’s reproductive rights, and I’m proud to stand with NARAL in this fight.”
“Every woman should have access to quality, affordable healthcare,” said Tedra Cobb. “That includes reproductive care, family planning services, and the absolute right to make decisions about her own body. My opponent has voted repeatedly to repeal protections for women in the Affordable Care Act, to defund Planned Parenthood, and this year she voted to turn back the clock on the fight for equal rights. Northern New York women deserve a member of Congress who will fight for them. I am proud to stand with NARAL in their mission to protect women.”
“As a tireless advocate for reproductive healthcare, I’m proud to have the support of NARAL,” said Dana Balter. “Congressman John Katko has a staunch anti-choice voting record and said that he would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. We will unseat him so that central and western New York women have a champion in Congress who will not only fight back against attacks on but work to codify women’s reproductive rights.”
Background on the candidates
- Nancy Goroff (NY-01) is a scientist seeking to unseat anti-choice Republican incumbent Lee Zeldin. Rep. Zeldin earned a 0% score from NARAL in the 2019 Congressional Record on Choice.
- Mondaire Jones (NY-17) is an attorney and graduate of Harvard Law School who previously served in the Obama administration’s Department of Justice.
- Tedra Cobb (NY-21) is a healthcare advocate who formerly held a seat on the St. Lawrence County’s Legislature. She will face off against anti-choice extremist Elise Stefanik, who constantly greenlights Trump’s dangerous agenda, repeatedly voting to push New Yorker’s’ healthcare out of reach.
- Dana Balter (NY-24) is an educator and advocate seeking to unseat anti-choice Republican John Katko. Rep. Katko earned a 0% score from NARAL in the 2019 Congressional Record on Choice.
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NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates and chapters are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all. For more than 50 years, NARAL has worked to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. Since 1969, NARAL has made history, grown to over 2.5 million members, and met the moments that have defined this fight with action, power, and freedom. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.”