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Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorses Slate of Reproductive Freedom Champions for Congress
For Immediate Release: September 15, 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 Congressional candidates in Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, and Texas ahead of the November general election: Dani Brzozowski (IL-16), Stephanie Schmid (NJ-04), Hillary O’Connor Mueri (OH-14), and Lulu Seikaly (TX-03). All four candidates are seeking to flip seats currently held by anti-choice, anti-freedom Republican incumbents.
“The stakes for reproductive freedom could not be higher in 2020, as Radical Right politicians across the country continue their relentless campaign to ban abortion and push access to reproductive healthcare as far out of reach as possible,” said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “NARAL is proud to endorse these four candidates, all of whom will be fierce advocates for reproductive freedom in Congress after unseating anti-choice, anti-freedom candidates who for too long have advanced an extreme and out-of-touch ideological agenda.”
Background on the candidates:
- Dani Brzozowski (IL-16) is an activist, community organizer, and Chair of the LaSalle County Democratic Party. She is seeking to unseat anti-choice, anti-freedom Republican incumbent Adam Kinzinger. Rep. Kinzinger earned a 0% score from NARAL in the 2019 Congressional Record on Choice.
- Stephanie Schmid (NJ-04) is a retired US Foreign Service Officer, human rights attorney, and reproductive rights advocate. She is seeking to unseat anti-choice, anti-freedom Republican incumbent Christopher Smith. Rep. Smith earned a 0% score from NARAL in the 2019 Congressional Record on Choice.
- Hillary O’Connor Mueri (OH-14) is an attorney and Navy combat veteran. She is seeking to unseat anti-choice, anti-freedom Republican incumbent David Joyce. Rep. Joyce earned a 0% score from NARAL in the 2019 Congressional Record on Choice.
- Lulu Seikaly (TX-03) is an attorney, small business advocate, and a first generation Lebanese-American. She is seeking to unseat anti-choice, anti-freedom Republican incumbent Van Taylor. Rep. Taylor earned a 0% score from NARAL in the 2019 Congressional Record on Choice.
“Adam Kinzinger is one of the most devastatingly anti-choice members of Congress. His commitment to stripping away the right to choose is infuriating and deliberate,” said Dani Brzozowski, candidate for Illinois’ 16th Congressional District. “The people of IL-16 – and folx all across the country – deserve so much better from their representation. I’m so thrilled to have NARAL by my side as we forge ahead to defeat him and protect the right to choose.”
“I am honored to have NARAL Pro-Choice America’s endorsement,” said Stephanie Schmid, candidate for New Jersey’s 4th Congressional District. “Their millions of members work tirelessly to fight for and protect reproductive freedom for everyone, and I am proud to be a longtime advocate and partner with NARAL. After 39 years of anti-choice leadership from Rep. Chris Smith, it is past time for New Jersey’s Fourth Congressional District to have a leader who represents our values. I am honored to be the Democratic Nominee challenging Rep. Smith, who has dedicated his life’s work to attacking reproductive rights, including access to birth control and abortion. Together, we can flip this seat and replace him with a strong reproductive rights champion and the first-ever Congresswoman in NJ-04.”
“I have dedicated my life in service to freedom for everybody, and am honored to fight for reproductive freedom with NARAL Pro-Choice America,” said Hillary O’Connor Mueri, candidate for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District. “The incumbent in this district has received a 0% rating from NARAL for five of his six years in office. We can’t count on him to fight for our freedom or our values. Together we can win this seat and protect reproductive freedom for everybody.”
“Women must maintain the exclusive right to their own healthcare decisions,” said Lulu Seikaly, candidate for Texas’ 3rd Congressional District. “My opponent Congressman Taylor doesn’t trust women with the freedom to make their own decisions about their bodies and health. In Congress, I will always stand up for women and am proud to have NARAL’s support.”
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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.”