Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice America Celebrates Cori Bush’s Victory in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Contact: [email protected]
Defeat of anti-choice, anti-freedom Republican candidate Anthony Rogers is a win for Missourians and reproductive freedom
Missouri — Today, voters in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District elected NARAL-endorsed candidate Cori Bush to the U.S. House of Representatives. Bush’s victory in the race to fill the seat being vacated by anti-freedom Republican incumbent Rep. Roy Blunt marks a huge win for reproductive freedom and flips a critical seat in the U.S. House.
In response to Bush’s victory, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue released the following statement:
“NARAL Pro-Choice America congratulates Cori Bush on her victory in her bid to represent Missouri in the U.S. House. If the last four years have shown us anything, it’s that we need champions like Bush in office who will fight for our fundamental rights and freedoms—including the right to abortion—in the face of unprecedented threats. NARAL and our members are proud to have supported Bush in this race, and we look forward to working together in the future to make sure that reproductive freedom is a reality for every body.”
NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri Executive Director Mallory Schwarz said:
“Today, St. Louis sent a champion of reproductive justice to Capitol Hill. Cori Bush has dedicated her life to fighting for reproductive justice. From demanding Black Lives Matter on the streets of Ferguson, to working to expand access to affordable healthcare in St. Louis, Cori has proven she will center the experiences of Black Missourians, LGBTQ+ folks, and people with low incomes. She is a bold leader, and a pillar of the St. Louis community. NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri and its 70,000+ members congratulate Cori on her win, and we look forward to her leadership.
NARAL endorsed Bush as part of its largest-ever electoral program, which reached over 3 million voters in key states including Missouri.
Cori Bush is a nurse, pastor, and community activist. Since the 2014 murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson, she has tirelessly fought for an end to police violence and led demands for justice across Missouri and the nation.
Bush is a strong advocate for reproductive justice and ensuring that women with low incomes, women of color, and trans people have access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare. During her campaign, Bush pledged to vote in support of fully funding Planned Parenthood and Title X—which provides millions of people with low incomes with access to affordable family planning services—and to repeal the racist and discriminatory Hyde Amendment’s ban on abortion coverage.
Read more about NARAL’s endorsed candidates here.
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For over 50 years, NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates and chapters have fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom—including access to abortion, contraception, and paid family leave—for every body. NARAL is powered by its more than 2.5 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 7 in 10 Americans who believe every person should have the freedom to make the best decision for themselves about if, when, and how to raise a family.