Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice America Celebrates Rep. Tom O’Halleran’s Victory in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Contact: [email protected]
Arizona — Last week, voters in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District reelected NARAL-endorsed Rep. Tom O’Halleran to the U.S. House of Representatives. His victory over anti-choice, anti-freedom Republican candidate Tiffany Shedd marks a huge win for reproductive freedom and keeps a critical seat in the House.
In response to O’Halleran’s victory, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue released the following statement:
“We are proud to have endorsed Rep. Tom O’Halleran, a proven champion for reproductive freedom, and congratulate him on winning this critical race. We know that Rep. O’Halleran will continue to be a fierce defender of our fundamental rights in the House of Representatives—and we need elected officials like him now more than ever.”
NARAL Pro-Choice America Southwest Regional Director Caroline Mello Roberson said:
“NARAL and our more than 52,000 members across Arizona applaud Rep. O’Halleran for his victory against anti-choice extremist Republican Tiffany Sheed. Tom O’Halleran is a proven advocate for reproductive freedom and can be trusted to stand strong against extreme ideological attacks on our most fundamental rights.”
NARAL endorsed O’Halleran as part of its largest-ever electoral program, which reached over 3 million voters in key states—including Arizona—to win races up and down the ballot.
NARAL’s engagement in Arizona was driven by on-the-ground organizers who led weekly “Repro Power Hour” phone banks—including NARAL’s first-ever Spanish-only phone bank—and other GOTV events such as postcard-writing parties, and virtual rallies for NARAL-endorsed candidates. Organizers also participated in food banks and other local community events, recognizing the difficulties many Arizonans are currently facing.
The NARAL Freedom Fund invested over half a million dollars in a robust program comprised of direct mail to 79,038 Arizona voters—including bilingual mail to a targeted, movable Latinx audience—76,986 peer-to-peer texts, and digital ads serving 5,445,413 impressions.
Recent polling found that a strong majority (76%) of Arizona voters believe that abortion should be legal, and that the government should not prevent a woman from making that decision for herself. 79% of Arizona voters — including 96% of Hispanic and Latinx voters—agree that any decision about pregnancy should be made by the woman with the support of people she loves and trusts.
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.