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NARAL Pro-Choice Washington Announces Endorsements

Modified: 07/08/2008

Leading Pro-Choice Organization Works to Protect Pro-Choice Leaders and Elect New Pro-Choice Champions

SEATTLE – With close races for statewide offices and the state legislature expected, the candidates’ positions on reproductive rights will be a determining factor this year. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington today announced its list of endorsements in advance of the August 19 Primary Election.

“The voters of Washington have a right to know where the candidates stand on the important issue of a woman’s right to choose”, said Karen Cooper, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington. “As the largest pro-choice political organization in the state, we are hard at work to make sure that voters know the truth about all the candidates’ positions on women’s rights,” she continued.

NARAL Pro-Choice Washington has once again endorsed Christine Gregoire (D) as she seeks re-election for the governor’s office. “Gov. Gregoire has been a champion for women’s health, from her advocacy for the Healthy Youth Act to her unflagging support for access to birth control at the pharmacy counter,“ Cooper said. “In contrast, Dino Rossi’s record is marked by extreme anti-choice, anti-contraception positions. As a state senator, he voted against insurance coverage for contraception and against family planning funding for low-income women, while he supported dangerous and ineffective abstinence-only sexual education programs. More recently, he has stated his support for allowing pharmacists to refuse to provide birth control for personal, non-medical reasons,” Cooper added.

NARAL Pro-Choice Washington has again endorsed sitting state Supreme Court Justices Charles Johnson (pos. 4) and Mary Fairhurst (pos. 3), as well as Justice Debra Stephens (pos. 7). “It is critical that we protect our courts from right-wing conservatives. These three justices will uphold our state’s pro-choice laws and protect women’s rights,” said Cooper.

NARAL Pro-Choice Washington also endorsed John Ladenburg (D) for attorney general and Mike Kreidler (D) for insurance commissioner. “John Ladenburg has a strong record of standing up for access to reproductive health care,” said Cooper. “He is someone we can count on to defend the right to choose in the office of attorney general. Mike Kreidler has been a vocal advocate for insurance equity for birth control coverage.”

NARAL Pro-Choice Washington also made endorsements in legislative races. “A strong pro-choice majority in the state legislature is an essential bulwark against attempts to chip away at our pro-choice laws,” Karen Cooper said. “NARAL will again mobilize Washington’s pro-choice majority to protect our pro-choice legislators and elect new pro-choice champions.”

Among the slate of pro-choice candidates, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington has endorsed Sens. Margarita Prentice (D-11) and Mary Margaret Haugen (D-10). “Sen. Prentice and Sen. Haugen have been vocal advocates for choice in the legislature. NARAL is proud to stand by them,” said Karen Cooper. NARAL has also endorsed candidates outside of the Puget Sound, like Vickie Ybarra in the 14^th legislative district.

“We are excited to be working with 100% pro-choice candidates in areas like Yakima and Spokane,” said Karen Cooper. “There is a strong pro-choice presence in these areas, and voters deserve pro-choice representation in Olympia.”

NARAL has made endorsements in a few races where there is more than one pro-choice candidate. “In accordance with our existing policies, we endorse candidates who have a long history of publicly advocating for a woman’s right to choose – candidates whom we can trust to use their offices to protect and expand the rights of women in Washington,” said Cooper.

“Now that we have a slate of candidates identified, we will mobilize our statewide network of activists to make phone calls and go door-to-door to turn out the vote for pro-choice candidates,” Cooper added. “Choice will be a critical issue in the upcoming elections, and we will make sure voters have complete information on all the candidates’ records.”

A complete list of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington’s endorsements is available at: http://www.prochoicewashington.org/politicalupdates/voteprochoice.shtml and is below:

U.S. President: Barack Obama (D)
U.S. House District 1: Jay Inlsee (D), District 2: Rick Larsen (D), District 3: Brian Baird (D), District 6: Norm Dicks (D), District 7: Jim McDermott (D), District 8: Darcy Burner (D), District 9: Adam Smith (D)
State Supreme Court position 3: Mary Fairhurst, position 4: Charles Johnson, position 7: Debra Stephens
Governor: Christine Gregoire (D)
Attorney General: John Ladenburg (D)
Insurance Commissioner: Mike Kreidler (D)
State Treasurer: Jim McIntire (D) and Chang Mook Sohn (D) – dual endorsement
King County Superior Court position 1: Susan Amini and Suzanne Parisien (dual endorsement), position 10: Regina Cahan, position 18: Susan Craighead, position 22: Holly Hill, position 26: Laura Gene Middaugh, position 37: Jean Reitschel and Nic Corning (dual endorsement), position 53: Mariane Spearman
Pierce County Executive: Calvin Goings (D)
1^st LD Senate: Rosemary McAuliffe (D), House 2: Mark Ericks (D)
3^rd LD Senate: Lisa Brown (D), House 1: Alex Wood (D)
4^th LD Senate: Judy Owens (D)
5^th LD Senate: Phyllis Huster (D), House 1: John Viebrock (D), House 2: David Spring (D)
6^th LD House 1: Don Barlow (D), House 2: John Driscoll (D)
10^th LD Senate: Mary Margaret Haugen (D), House 1: Timothy Knue (D), House 2: Patricia Terry (D)
11^th LD Senate: Margarita Prentice (D), House 1: Zack Hudgins (D), House 2: Bob Hasegawa (D)
14^th LD House 1: Vickie Ybarra (D)
16^th LD House 2: Bill Grant (D)
17^th LD House 2: Deb Wallace (D)
19^th LD Senate: Brian Hatfield (D), House 1: Dean Takko (D), House 2: Brian Blake (D)
21^st LD House 1: Mary Helen Roberts (D), House 2: Marko Liias (D)
22^nd LD Senate: Karen Fraser (D), House 1: Brendan Williams (D), House 2: Sam Hunt (D)
23^rd LD Senate: Phil Rockefeller (D), House 1: Sherry Appleton (D), House 2: Christine Rolfes (D)
24^th LD House 1: Kevin Van De Wege (D), House 2: Lynn Kessler (D)
26^th LD House 1: Kim Abel (D), House 2: Larry Seaquist (D)
27^th LD Senate: Debbie Regala (D), House 1: Dennis Flannigan (D), House 2: Jeannie Darneille (D)
28^th LD Senate: Deborah Srail (D), House 2: Tami Green (D)
29^th LD House 1: Steve Conway (D), House 2: Steve Kirby (D)
30^th LD House 2: Carol Gregory (D)
31^st LD House 1: Ron Weigelt (D)
32^nd LD House 1: Maralyn Chase (D), House 2: Ruth Kagi (D)
33^rd LD House 1: Tina Orwall (D), House 2: Dave Upthegrove (D)
34^th LD Senate: Joe McDermott (D), House 1: Eileen Cody (D), House 2: Sharon Nelson (D)
35^th LD House 1: Kathryn Haigh (D), House 2: Daryl Daugs (D) and Fred Finn (D) – dual endorsement
36^th LD House 1: John Burbank (D) and Reuven Carlyle (D) – dual endorsement, House 2: Mary Lou Dickerson (D)
37^th LD House 1: Sharon Tomiko-Santos (D), House 2: Eric Pettigrew (D)
38^th LD House 1: John McCoy (D), House 2: Mike Sells (D)
40^th LD Senate: Kevin Ranker (D)
41^st LD Senate: Fred Jarrett (D), House 1: Steve Litzow (R) and Marcie Maxwell (D) – dual endorsement, House 2: Judy Clibborn (D)
42^nd LD House 2: Kelli Linville (D)
43^rd LD House 1: Jamie Pedersen (D), House 2: Frank Chopp (D)
44^th LD House 1: Hans Dunshee (D), House 2: Liz Loomis (D)
45^th LD House 1: Roger Goodman (D), House 2: Larry Springer (D)
46^th LD House 1: Gerry Pollet (D) and Scott White (D) – dual endorsement, House 2: Phyllis Kenney (D)
47^th LD House 1: Geoff Simpson (D), House 2: Pat Sullivan (D)
48^th LD House 1: Ross Hunter (D), House 2: Deb Eddy (D)
49^th LD Senate: Craig Pridemore (D), House 1: James Jacks (D), House 2: James Moeller (D)

NARAL Pro-Choice Washington is the leading grassroots pro-choice advocacy organization in Washington state. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington endorses 100% pro-choice candidates. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington PAC works to elect candidates committed to protecting the full range of reproductive health options, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington is the state affiliate of NARAL Pro-Choice America. Endorsements in federal races are made by NARAL Pro-Choice America.

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