Rep. who supported health care bill loses primary following pro-life initiative

Washington D.C., May 12, 2010 / 18:02 pm

After a campaign run by a pro-life activist group that targeted pro-life members of congress who supported the health care reform bill, a West Virginia representative lost his recent primary election.

In the state's primary election in West Virginia on May 11, Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.V.) lost to his competitor, state Sen. Mike Oliverio. Congressman Mollohan's district was targeted by the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List campaign after he voted in support of President Barack Obama's health care reform initiative in March.

“Just as Bart Stupak did, Congressman Mollohan now fully realizes that votes do have consequences,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, SBA List president on Tuesday. “Mollohan's loss comes as a direct result of his vote for healthcare reform that included federal funding of abortion.”

“We promised Rep. Mollohan and the other 'pro-life' Democrats that we would make their re-election incredibly painful if they voted 'yes' on the healthcare bill,” she added. “Tonight, the Susan B. Anthony List followed through on that promise, and Rep. Mollohan is the second member of that coalition to see those consequences.”

SBA List spent a reported $78,000 in Rep. Mollohan's West Virginia district informing voters of the congressman's record through television and radio ads as well as robo-calls. This latest effort is part of a $1 million initiative that will move to other districts in Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania, targeting self-described “pro-life” democrats who endorsed the Senate health care bill.

“This should be just another sign to 'pro-life' Democrats that voted for the healthcare bill that they will face the same consequences as Stupak and Mollohan,” Dannenfelser asserted.