On Thursday, the campaign arm of Planned Parenthood in Texas endorsed 28 candidates and incumbents for the 2020 elections.
Planned Parenthood Texas Votes endorsed 27 Democrats and one Republican running for the Texas House and Senate, both controlled by Republicans. Last month, activists and donors pressured the pro-choice PAC to dump state Rep. Sarah Davis of Houston, the only Republican endorsed by the group.
Democrats are targeting almost two dozen statehouse districts this November, a majority of which were won or nearly won by Beto O’Rourke in 2018. If successful in capturing nine seats in the Texas House, it would be the first time since 2002 Democrats control the lower chamber.
Doing so would lead to quick relief from the slew of legislation in past years that has taken aim at abortion providers in the state. Most recently, Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 22 in the law last legislative session, preventing state and county governments from partnering with healthcare providers that offer abortion.
The endorsements come the same week as endorsements made by Equality Texas, the state’s largest pro-LGBTQ advocacy group and PAC.
Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images
Fernando covers Texas politics and government at the Texas Signal. Before joining the Signal, Fernando spent two years at the Houston Chronicle and previously interned at Houston’s NPR station News 88.7. He is a graduate of the University of Houston, Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, and enjoys reading, highlighting things, and arguing on social media. You can follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93 or email at fernando@texassignalarchive.com
