Planned Parenthood Illinois Action Announces Political Endorsements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Planned Parenthood Illinois Action Announces Political Endorsements

Chicago (10/16/14) — Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIA), the non-partisan political and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood in Illinois, today announced endorsements for the November 4 general election. PPIA made endorsements in races for the U. S. Senate, U. S. House of Representatives, statewide offices, Cook County Board President, the Illinois Senate, and the Illinois House of Representatives.

PPIA endorsed Richard Durbin for the U. S. Senate.

“Senator Dick Durbin is an outstanding leader on access to women’s healthcare,” said Pam Sutherland, Vice President of Public Policy and Education of PPIA.

PPIA endorsed the following candidates for Congress:

•  Bobby Rush (D-1)
•  Robin Kelly (D-2)
•  Luis Gutierrez (D-4)
•  Mike Quigley (D-5)
•  Danny Davis (D-7)
•  Tammy Duckworth (D-8)
•  Janice Schakowsky (D-9)
•  Brad Schneider (D-10)
•  Bill Foster (D-11)
•  Ann Callis (D-13)
•  Cheri Bustos (D-17)

“Seeing the repeated attacks on women’s healthcare in the Congress, we know the importance of electing candidates who clearly support access to reproductive healthcare, including birth control and abortion services,” said Pam Sutherland. “It is essential that we elect these candidates because we know they will stand up for women, no matter what.”

PPIA endorsed these candidates for statewide office:

•  Pat Quinn for Governor
•  Paul Vallas for Lt. Governor
•  Lisa Madigan for Attorney General
•  Jesse White for Secretary of State
•  Sheila Simon for Comptroller
•  both Michael Frerichs and Tom Cross for Treasurer

PPIA also endorsed Toni Preckwinkle for Cook County Board President. 

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“These candidates understand that they cannot make a personal health decision for someone else,” commented Sutherland. “They respect the complicated, deeply private healthcare decisions women make in consultation with their qualified medical providers.”  

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PPIA endorsed these candidates for the Illinois Senate:

•  Mattie Hunter (D-3)
•  John Cullerton (D-6)
•  Daniel Biss (D-9)
•  Suzanne Glowiak (D-24)
•  Terry Link (D-30)
•  Mike Jacobs (D-36)
•  Don Harmon (D-39)
•  Linda Holmes (D-42)
•  James Clayborne, Jr. (D-57)

“The members of the Illinois General Assembly have the power to make policies that directly impact access to women’s healthcare,” added Sutherland. “These candidates know that in order to reduce unintended pregnancies and keep women healthy, all women must have access to a broad range of women’s healthcare services including life-saving cancer screenings, birth control, prevention and treatment of STDs, breast health services, Pap tests, sexual health education, information and counseling.”

PPIA endorsed these candidates for the Illinois House:

Daniel Burke (D-1); Edward Acevedo (D-2); Luis Arroyo (D-3); Cynthia Soto (D-4); Kenneth Dunkin (D-5); Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-7); Arthur Turner (D-9); Pamela Reaves-Harris (D-10); Ann Williams (D-11); Sara Feigenholtz (D-12); Gregory Harris (D-13); Kelly Cassidy (D-14); Lou Lang (D-16); Laura Fine (D-17); Robyn Gabel (D-18); Robert Martwick (D-19); Mo Khan (D-20); Silvana Tabares (D-21); Michael Zalewski (D-23); Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez (D-24); Barbara Flynn Currie (D-25); Christian Mitchell (D-26); Monique Davis (D-27); Robert Rita (D-28); Thaddeus Jones (D-29); William Davis (D-30); Marcus Evans, Jr. (D-33); Elgie Sims, Jr. (D-34); Frances Ann Hurley (D-35); Nichole Serbin (D-37); Al Riley (D-38); Will Guzzardi (D-39); Jaime Andrade, Jr. (D-40); Anna Moeller (D-43); Fred Crespo (D-44); Jenny Burke (D-45); Deb Conroy (D-46); Valerie Burd (D-50); Bill Downs (D-52); Martin Moylan (D-55); Michelle Mussman (D-56); Elaine Nekritz (D-57); Scott Drury (D-58); Carol Sente (D-59); Loren Karner (D-61); Sam Yingling (D-62); Jack Franks (D-63); Litesa Wallace (D-67); Mike Smiddy (D-71); Patrick Verschoore (D-72); Martha Shugart (D-75); Kathleen Willis (D-77); Camille Lilly (D-78); Anthony DeLuca (D-80); Elizabeth Chaplin (D-81); Stephanie Kifowit (D-84); Emily McAsey (D-85); Lawrence Walsh, Jr. (D-86); Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-92); Moira Dunn (D-97); Natalie Manley (D-98); Carol Ammons (D-103); Jay Hoffman (D-113); Eddie Lee Jackson (D-114).

PPIA engages in educational and electoral activity, including public education campaigns, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy on behalf of commonsense policies that protect the reproductive health and rights of women, teens and families. All pro-choice/pro-Planned Parenthood incumbents receive an endorsement regardless of the position of the opponent. To see the full list of PPIA-endorsed candidates online, visit www.ppiaction.org.

Voters can now access information about candidates in one place with the newly launched online Voter Guide, a voter education tool built by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund in collaboration with Planned Parenthood Illinois Action and other Planned Parenthood advocacy organizations across the country. The online Voter Guide has been optimized for both desktop computers and mobile devices, so that voters in Illinois can take information and ratings on where candidates stand on issues of importance to women right into the voting booth. To access the Voter Guide, visit www.ppactionvoterguide.org.

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Contact:
Jacqueline Priego
312-592-6800

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This post was created by Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIA). PPIA is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL).

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