Susan B Anthony List Defeats 15 of 20 "Votes Have Consequences" Candidates

Today, the Susan B. Anthony List announced that it successfully defeated 15 of its 20 targeted self-described “pro-life” Democrats who voted for the pro-abortion health care bill as part of its “Votes Have Consequences” project.

“Last night, the SBA List accomplished its overall goal and delivered on our promise that votes have consequences,” SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser said. “In these races, the abortion issue was a determining factor. We flexed the muscles of the pro-life movement. Our project started more than a year ago when we targeted these districts to strengthen pro-life Democrats' resolve to vote against abortion funding in health care reform. When the so-called ‘pro-life’ Democrats caved, our mission had to change. By defeating 15 of 20 these self-described pro-life Democrats, we have sent a clear message to Washington that voting against the deeply held pro-life views of your constituency has serious political consequences.”

Targets defeated included: Rep. Brad Ellsworth (IN-SEN); Rep. Steve Driehaus (OH-01); Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-04); Bart Stupak (Retired, MI-01); Alan Mollohan (Primary defeat, MI-01); Baron Hill (IN-09); Paul Kanjorski (PA-11); John Salazar (CO-03); Jim Oberstar (MN-08); Bob Etheridge (NC-02); John Boccieri (OH-16); Chris Carney (PA-10); John Spratt (SC-05); Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23); and Charlie Wilson (OH-06). The SBA List also supported the re-election campaign of Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski (IL-03), the lone member of the Stupak Coalition to vote against the health care bill because of its abortion funding problems.

The SBA List’s $3.4 million Votes Have Consequences project included a comprehensive political campaign involving bus tours, billboards, radio and television ads, nearly one million mailers to pro-life voters, robo-calls, newspaper ads and local grassroots organizing.

The Susan B. Anthony List spent $11 million during the 2010 midterm elections, including: $3.4 million on its “Votes Have Consequences” project targeting self-described “pro-life” Democrats who voted for abortion funding in the health care bill; $2.3 million on its efforts to elect pro-life women to the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and Statewide Office; and $1.4 million spent defeating pro-abortion incumbents and protecting pro-life leaders. SBA List members across the country bundled over $600,000 in direct contributions to candidates. Overall, the SBA List was involved in 90 races.