Prolife candidates gain in state House, U.S. Congress
The voice of prolife voters is heard throughout Michigan

As the final ballots were being tallied, it appeared that although George W. Bush and Spence Abraham were losing in their respective races in Michigan, RLM-PAC endorsed prolife candidates made gains in both the Michigan House and the U. S. House of Representatives.

Overall, 186 out of 230 RLM-PAC endorsed candidates on the local, state and federal levels won their races in the 2000 elections, an impressive winning percentage of 80.9 percent.

In U.S. Congressional races, all 7 prolife incumbents were victorious. As of this writing, it also appears that state Senator Mike Rogers, prolife candidate for the 8th Congressional District, has won his race against pro-abort opponent, state Senator Dianne Byrum. That would add one more prolife seat to Michigan’s congressional delegation, making it 8 endorsed prolife seats of 16.

While the Rogers’ victory gives us an additional prolifer in the U.S. Congress, it also means a special election at some time in the future to fill the final two years of Sen. Rogers’ term. Prolifers should begin now to think about uniting behind a single prolife candidate for this election, as pro-abort state representative Judy Scranton is known to covet this seat.

In the Michigan House, with all 110 seats up for grabs, RLM-PAC prolife candidates took 67 seats, giving us one more endorsed candidate than before. This bodes well for future prolife legislation, as 24 of the 38 state senate seats are also held by prolifers.
Of equal - if not more - importance are the local races: city and county commissioners, sheriffs, clerks, etc. With term limits in effect, these local offices become the “minor leagues” from which the next state legislators arise. On the local level, 78 of 98 RLM-PAC endorsed prolife candidates won, a winning percentage of nearly 80 percent. As term limits begin to take its toll on state representatives and senators, we will see more of these local officials running for state office. It is never too early to look at the prolife stands of local elected officials as they run and seek higher office.

In judicial races, RLM-PAC endorsed candidates took 32 of 40 seats. Here, too, it is important to look at personal philosophy of judicial candidates. RLM-PAC never asks judicial candidates to rule a certain way, nor do we ask a judicial candidate how they might rule in cases.

However, we do believe that judicial candidates have every right to disclose their personal philosophy on life issues. If U.S. Supreme Court candidates are subjected to questions of personal philosophy prior to their U.S. Senate confirmation, then local and state judicial candidates should have the right to disclose their personal views.

Overall, prolifers should take heart from the 2000 elections. Your efforts throughout the state showed that you made a definite difference in many races - leading to an increase in prolife representation in Congress and the Michigan House. We must redouble our efforts in some areas of the state, knowing our cause is just and we will prevail for the unborn.

Back to Table of Contents