By Karen Cross, National Right to Life Political Director
Editor’s note. This appears in the October digital edition of National Right to Life News at www.nrlc.org/uploads/NRLNews/NRLNewsOct2015.pdf.
In 2016, 34 of the 100 U.S. Senate seats will be contested on November 8, 2016. Of those, 24 are seats currently held by Republicans, and 10 are seats currently held by Democrats.
Following is an overview of what are shaping up to be some of the most competitive Senate races in the country.
Arizona
In Arizona, pro-life Senator John McCain (R) faces a likely challenge by pro-abortion Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D). McCain has a pro-life voting record, while Kirkpatrick has voted against legislation to protect babies who survive abortions, and against a bill that would protect from abortion babies 20 weeks and older. Most political pundits consider this a “lean Republican” seat.
Florida
Because pro-life Senator Marco Rubio (R) is retiring to run for president, Florida has an open Senate seat. Currently there are more than 20 candidates vying for the open seat. Nominees will be determined during the August 30, 2016, primary election. The race is considered a pure tossup by all of the major political pundits.
Nevada
In Nevada, with the retirement of pro-abortion Senator Harry Reid (D), the open seat is considered a tossup. Pro-life Rep. Joe Heck (R) and pro-abortion former Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto (D) are vying for the open seat.
New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, pro-life Senator Kelly Ayotte (R) will face a challenge by pro-abortion Governor Maggie Hassan (D). Ayotte has maintained a 100% pro-life voting record, while Hassan supports the current policy of abortion on demand. As governor, Hassan signed legislation placing a 25-foot buffer zone outside abortion clinics to thwart the ability of pro-lifers to offer alternatives to abortion.
Ohio
Pro-life Senator Rob Portman (R) faces a challenge by either pro-abortion Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld (D) or pro-abortion former Governor Ted Strickland (D), depending upon who wins the Democratic nomination on March 16, 2016. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1993-1995 and 1997-2007), Strickland had a pro-abortion voting record.
Pennsylvania
Pro-life Senator Pat Toomey (R) will be challenged either by pro-abortion former Congressman Joe Sestak (D), or Katie McGinty (D), former Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Toomey has a solid pro-life voting record. Both Sestak and McGinty support a policy of abortion on demand. The primary will be held on April 26, 2016. Toomey won his election in 2010 with 51% of the vote.
Wisconsin
Pro-life freshman Senator Ron Johnson (R) is facing a rematch with pro-abortion former Senator Russ Feingold (D), whom he defeated in 2010 with 51.9% of the vote. Johnson has a 100% pro-life voting record, while Feingold amassed a solid pro-abortion voting record, including a vote endorsing Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion on demand. The race is considered a tossup, or even “lean Democrat” by political pundits.
Currently, the Senate leadership is in pro-life hands, with 54 Republican seats. In order to take control back into pro-abortion hands, Democrats would need a net gain of five Senate seats in 2016 (or see a net gain of four seats, if the Democrats retain the White House).
Look for updates in future National Right to Life News and National Right to Life News Today.