Politics

Pro-Life Democrat Dan Lipinski Loses To Pro-Choice Primary Challenger

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Mary Margaret Olohan Social Issues Reporter
Font Size:

Democratic Illinois Rep. Dan Lipinski lost to primary challenger Marie Newman Tuesday night.

Lipinski, who is one of the few remaining pro-life Democratic lawmakers, lost to pro-choice primary challenger Newman during the Illinois primary Tuesday night. His loss comes despite a five figure campaign of support from the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List.

“We offer condolences to our friend Congressman Lipinski, who fought fiercely and admirably in this race, and to the pro-life citizens of his district who have lost a champion,” SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement. “Congressman Lipinski has long been a profile in courage, bucking the sad trend of Democrat leaders vying to be the greatest advocate of abortion. We are deeply grateful for his bravery in standing strong.”

Americans United for Life President and CEO Catherine Glenn Foster also lamented Lipinski’s loss, calling it “a loss for Illinois and for our entire nation.”

“Dan Lipinski is precisely the sort of leader America needs in our public square: principled, pragmatic, and prudent,” she said.

“While Dan Lipinski will no longer have the privilege of serving the people of Illinois’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives after the next election, I am heartened by the fact that pro-life Democrats across the nation are speaking more confidently and more passionately than they have in decades,” Foster added. “By continuing to seek common ground in our support for fundamental human rights, we can build deep, cherished relationships with fellow advocates and magnify our progress in the cause for life.”

Lipinski’s loss comes as Democratic candidates repeatedly disavow pro-life voters from their party. 2o2o presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said as recently as early February that being a Democrat means being pro-choice.

“I think in the Senate’s, probably 95% of the Democrats are pro-choice, the other few are not — in the House, maybe even a higher percentage,” he said. (RELATED: Media Ignores Buttigieg Refusing To Say He Does Not Support Infanticide)

“So that’s kind of what my view is. I think by this time in history, I think when we talk about what a Democrat is, I think being pro-choice is an essential part of that,” he added.

Sanders’s words came after pro-life Democrat Kristin Day questioned former 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg on Democratic inclusion of pro-life Democrats during a Jan. 26 town hall with Fox’s Chris Wallace.

WATCH:

“I’m a proud pro-life Democrat,” she said. “Do you want the support of pro-life Democratic voters?”

“There are 21 million of us. And if so, would you support more moderate platform language to ensure the party of diversity and inclusion does include everybody?” she continued.

Buttigieg said that though he respects her views, he is not going to try to earn her vote “by tricking” her.

“I am pro-choice,” he said. “I believe a woman ought to be able to make that decision.”

Day protested that the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate did not address her question and pointed out that the Democratic platform “contains language that says we don’t belong.”

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.