The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the political and advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America: We work in the streets, in the states, and in Washington, DC to advance women's health.

Planned Parenthood Outreach Delivers Victories
In Heartland States and Elections Nationwide

Voters Reject Extremist Politicians, Choose Commonsense Solutions
To Protect Women's Health

WASHINGTON, DC - The Planned Parenthood Action Fund's strategic campaign to mobilize pro-choice voters delivered major victories in heartland races and elections nationwide. In addition to electing pro-choice candidates in the key heartland states of Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, voters rejected South Dakota's dangerous abortion ban and defeated ballot initiatives in California and Oregon that would have endangered vulnerable teens' health and safety. In Kansas, voters soundly rejected anti-choice crusader Attorney General Phill Kline, who campaigned on his efforts to seize women's confidential medical records from reproductive health centers.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Cecile Richards called the midterm election results a critical turning point for the nation.

"Women and families are the real winners in this election," Richards said. "This is a landslide victory for pro-choice supporters and a sound rejection of extreme policies and politicians. The 2006 election represents a major step toward getting our country back on track and ensuring that our lawmakers have the right priorities, like support for women's health care."

Congressional elections nationwide have delivered a pro-choice speaker of the House, and the historic election of the first woman to hold this post.

"Planned Parenthood extends its warmest congratulations to Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. We are heartened by Pelosi's solid track record on women's health issues and are optimistic about the potential for proactive, commonsense solutions for women and families. The new House majority leadership represents a bright future for family planning."

As the political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Action Fund works in communities, state legislatures and our nation's capital to educate voters about candidates' support for our pro-prevention reproductive health care agenda. The Action Fund is non-partisan and endorsements are based on a candidate's support for and record on reproductive health care.

The focus of the Action Fund in 2006 was to educate voters about candidates, engage voters in the heartland states, mobilize infrequent women voters, and build infrastructure for 2008. To make this happen, the Action Fund focused on increasing voter turnout; engaging the next generation through boot camps and grassroots leadership; using the impressive strength of our supporters and Planned Parenthood organizations in 50 states to focus on key battles; and using voter-to-voter contact through phone banking and door-to-door campaigns. In Ohio alone, more than 500 Planned Parenthood Action Fund volunteers worked to educate voters on pro-choice issues.

For more information on Action Fund 2006 endorsements, please visit http://www.ppaction.org/ppvotes/endorsements_2006.html.