NARAL Pro-Choice America Responds to Outcome of Elections in California’s 21st, 25th, 39th, and 48th Congressional Districts - Reproductive Freedom for All

Formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America

Press Release

NARAL Pro-Choice America Responds to Outcome of Elections in California’s 21st, 25th, 39th, and 48th Congressional Districts

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Contact: [email protected]

California After hard-fought races, four NARAL-endorsed candidates in California have lost their campaigns for the U.S. House of Representatives: Reps. TJ Cox (CA-21), Gil Cisneros (CA-39), and Harley Rouda (CA-48), and state Assemblymember Christy Smith, who was seeking election in California’s 25th Congressional District (CA-25). 

NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue released the following statement in response: 

“Despite our disappointment in the outcome of these races, NARAL Pro-Choice America and our members will never stop fighting for the 77% of Americans who believe in the legal right to abortion. There’s no doubt that the anti-choice Republicans elected to these seats are wildly out-of-touch with the vast majority of Americans who support reproductive freedom. The stakes are higher than ever, and NARAL Pro-Choice America and our 2.5 million members will never stop fighting to defeat politicians who work to interfere with personal decisions about our lives, families, and futures.” 

NARAL Pro-Choice California Director Shannon Olivieri Hovis said:

“NARAL Pro-Choice California is proud to have supported these proven champions for reproductive freedom in their campaigns, and we applaud them for serving the people of California and centering the needs of women and families throughout their time in office. While we are sorry to not have their leadership in Congress, NARAL Pro-Choice California and our 295,000 members across the state will continue to fight to safeguard reproductive freedom for every body.” 

In the 2020 election cycle, NARAL Pro-Choice America ran its largest-ever electoral program designed to reach, persuade, and mobilize key voters in target states across the country who are motivated by Trump and Republicans’ unyielding attacks on reproductive freedom. 

Despite California being a leader on reproductive freedom and healthcare innovation, 40% of counties have no abortion provider and nine counties do not have a single OB-GYN. These types of barriers to care disproportionately harm BIPOC, low-income, and rural communities, and are part of a coordinated effort by the Radical Right to maintain white patriarchal control at all costs. 

NARAL Pro-Choice America endorsed 23 members of California’s Congressional delegation in 2020, 20 of whom won their campaigns for reelection. 

Read more about NARAL Pro-Choice America and NARAL Pro-Choice California’s endorsed candidates here and 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.