For Immediate Release: October 18, 2018
Contact: [email protected]
NARAL Pro-Choice America today announced its endorsement of Alessandra Biaggi in New York’s 34th Senate District race against Republican Richard Ribustello.
“Reproductive rights are under attack like never before, which makes it more important than ever that we elect pro-choice advocates like Alessandra Biaggi, ” said Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “We are thrilled to endorse Alessandra, who has shown herself to be a true champion for the healthcare needs of women and families across the state of New York. We look forward to working with her win in November.”
“I am proud to receive the endorsement of NARAL Pro-Choice America, an organization that is leading the fight nationally to protect women’s right to choose and for paid family leave,” Alessandra Biaggi said. “One of my main reasons for running was to ensure New York finally passes the Reproductive Health Act, which would give New York State women, through state law, all the protections now provided under Roe v. Wade. It’s completely unacceptable that New York, a leader on this issue almost 50 years ago, includes abortion in its criminal laws, not its health laws. And we couldn’t even get common sense birth control legislation passed in the State Senate. With Roe at risk federally, I pledge to make passing the Reproductive Health Act and the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act my highest priorities.”
Biaggi successfully challenged State Senator Jeff Klein in the NY primaries this summer. Klein was one of the most influential lawmakers in NY politics as the leader of the now-defunct Independent Democratic Conference (IDC). While Democrats had the majority in the NY State Senate, this group caucused with Republicans and prevented any Democratic legislation from passing in the State Senate. Biaggi’s campaign was key to changing course, and her ascension as the Democratic nominee to represent part of the Bronx and Westchester was historic in toppling the IDC leader. In her campaign, she has emphasized that NY should be at the forefront of issues concerning women, and will tirelessly work to protect reproductive rights.
NARAL’s political program for the 2018 general election is the organization’s largest ever midterm political program to advance candidates fighting for “our values, our future, our vote.” NARAL is investing in diverse candidates up and down the ballot in 19 states, mobilizing members and voters through mail, phones, digital ads, door to door canvassing, TV ads, and rallies that hold anti-choice candidates accountable and lift up pro-choice champions. To read more about NARAL’s endorsed candidates, click here.
NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all Americans. NARAL works 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. 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.”