One of the largest pro-choice organizations in America, NARAL, endorsed Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton for president on Tuesday morning, stating that she prioritizes “women’s issues” and “has what it takes to fight Republican attacks on women’s reproductive rights.”
“Our country is at a turning point for women. 2016 could be the dawn of a new era of reproductive freedom and equality, or it could be the year that a crisis in abortion access overtakes the country,” the pro-choice group wrote in their endorsement.
The endorsement also follows months of fighting on the campaign trail, and in Congress, over the investigation of Planned Parenthood for harvesting and selling fetal tissue.
“Women’s health and rights are under attack across America,” Clinton said in response to the endorsement. “We cannot afford to elect a Republican who will rip away the progress women have made. We need to protect and advance reproductive rights, not allow politicians to interfere in women’s personal health decisions.”
The former secretary of state loudly championed Planned Parenthood following the release of videos showing officials from that group talking about mishandling aborted fetuses, and also condemned the GOP for threatening to shut down the government-funded healthcare organization. On the trail, Clinton has focused on women’s healthcare issues, and has proposed legislation to increase access to abortion clinics and birth control, and allowing women to have extended maternity leave.
NARAL aims to help elect pro-choice representatives to Congress and “defeat candidates” on the other side. It also aimed to connect Congress to state affiliates to help spread their pro-choice message in local legislatures. Thus far in the 2016 cycle, the group has attacked Scott Walker, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, claiming that “the Republican Party obviously offers us no options, although that hasn’t always been true.”
