Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice America Responds to the Outcome of the Special Election in California’s 25th Congressional District
Today the results were announced in the Special Election to fill the seat for California’s 25th Congressional District, formerly held by Rep. Katie Hill. While many ballots are left to be counted, anti-choice Republican extremist Mike Garcia is expected to defeat Democratic nominee Christy Smith in the race to finish the remainder of Hill’s term. This contest, however, is far from over. Garcia and Smith will face off again six months from now in the November general election.
Statement from NARAL Pro-Choice California Director Shannon Hovis:
“NARAL Pro-Choice California is proud to have supported Assemblymember Christy Smith in this race, and we applaud her for running a campaign that put women and families front and center. While we are disappointed in the outcome, we recognize that this special election couldn’t have taken place under more unique circumstances. If this race has made one thing clear, it’s that Mike Garcia cares more about appeasing Donald Trump than he does about representing the values of his constituents. The stakes for reproductive freedom could not be higher right now. Garcia is dramatically out-of-touch with the 84% of Californians who support legal access to abortion. We’re confident that come November, voters will once again flip this seat blue, just like they did in 2018.”
Statement from NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue:
“NARAL will never stop fighting to defeat anti-choice politicians like Mike Garcia, who put their own extreme ideologies over our fundamental freedoms. We couldn’t be more proud of the campaign Christy ran, and are comforted by the fact that in just a few months voters in this district will once again have the opportunity to send her, a true champion for women and families, to Congress. The fight for reproductive freedom isn’t won or lost in one race, and the simple truth is Mike Garcia’s days in office are numbered. Despite the outcome of this special election, we know that voters are paying attention and it will not be lost on them that Garcia will always put his loyalty to Trump over the wellbeing of Californians. NARAL and our members will continue to do everything we can to unseat him and his fellow anti-choice extremists in November.”
NARAL Pro-Choice California previously backed Smith in her successful 2018 bid for California state Assembly, and NARAL Pro-Choice America has been heavily invested in the CA-25 special election since endorsing Smith’s candidacy in December 2019.
In the weeks leading up to Super Tuesday, NARAL organizers and members knocked on 680 doors in support of Smith, and in the last two months made more than 1,350 calls (contacting more than 5,000 voters) in California’s 25th District through a robust text and digital program.
NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue was also joined by Smith and other prominent progressive leaders, including Rep. Katie Porter, in hosting a National Virtual Phone Bank as part of Smith’s Get Out the Vote Kickoff on May 7th.