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Planned Parenthood endorses Rosen in U.S. Senate bid, announces investment in Nevada, other states

Megan Messerly
Megan Messerly
Election 2018Health CareIndyBlog
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The political arm of the nonprofit Planned Parenthood is endorsing Rep. Jacky Rosen in her U.S. Senate bid on the heels of the announcement that the organization’s independent expenditure committee and three other groups plan to invest $30 million in Nevada and two other states ahead of the 2018 election.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund announced its endorsement of Rosen today, highlighting what it couched as the “false and misleading” statements her Republican opponent, U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, has made about the organization’s health centers. A year ago today, Heller told a Reno crowd that he had “no problems with federal funding for Planned Parenthood” but asked whether federal funding should “cover some of the activities” that occur at the organization’s clinics. Heller later said through a spokeswoman that he “opposes providing federal funding to any organization that performs abortions and is supported by taxpayer’ dollars.”

The organization also highlighted Heller’s votes to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and his decision to co-sponsor a bill that would have banned abortions after 20 weeks in their decision to support Rosen.

“We are proud to stand with Nevada’s Jacky Rosen and endorse her run for U.S. Senate,” said Planned Parenthood Executive Vice President Dawn Laguens in a statement. “Rosen has been a progressive champion in the House and a tireless fighter for women’s health and reproductive rights.”

Rosen said in a statement that she is “thrilled” to have the organization’s support. A spokesman for Heller could not be immediately reached for comment about Planned Parenthood's support for Rosen and planned investment in Nevada.

On Monday, four progressive organizations — Planned Parenthood Votes, Center for Community Change Action, Color of Change PAC and the Service Employees International Union — launched a joint effort under the banner of “Win Justice” to target key races in 2018, including Rosen’s. The organizations have pledged to spend $30 million targeting 2.5 million voters in Nevada, Florida and Michigan in the gubernatorial, U.S. Senate and several down-ticket races.

The groups plan to target 250,000 infrequent voters in Nevada, including people of color, women and younger voters. In a statement, the organizations said that efforts to engage low-turnout voters haven’t worked in the past because of the lack of “real” relationships built with voters, but that Win Justice will “authentically” engage voters “early and often.”

Win Justice plans to use peer-to-peer texting, digital organizing and resource and training people to knock on doors and mobilize “tens of thousands” of voters in communities to influence the elections in Nevada and the other states.

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