Nevertheless, Presley has received financial support from at least one notable pro-abortion partisan. Donor filings show tens of thousands of dollars in support from Karla Jurvetson, the vice chair of the board of directors of Emily’s List, a group that supports pro-abortion politicians around the country.
Presley has denied that campaign donations could influence his policy positions. “I’m not going to sell my soul for $20 for campaign money,” he said during the debate. “So if somebody donates to my campaign, it doesn’t change my beliefs for one second.”
The Democratic candidate has gone out of his way to emphasize his position on abortion, stating in a campaign spot earlier this year that he is “pro-life.”
Though Presley’s position on abortion is contrasted with that of the national Democratic platform — which is broadly in favor of abortion rights — he has still received considerable support from official Democratic channels. The Democratic Governors Association has invested nearly $4 million into his campaign.
Abortion the focus in other states as well
Outside of the deep South, abortion politics are in full swing in some states as the election season nears its end. In Virginia, Republicans are hoping to retain control of the state House of Delegates and flip control of the state Senate to give the GOP a trifecta with Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Republicans have floated the possible passage of a 15-week abortion ban in the state, a looser limit compared with some other states. The state Republican Party said in September that state Democrats “have fought to make unlimited, unrestricted, taxpayer-funded abortion-on-demand up until the moment of birth the new standard under Virginia law. They are the abortion extremists.”
Pro-abortion spending has been heavy in the state, meanwhile, with the ACLU alone spending $1 million to advocate for pro-abortion politicians. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee also reportedly pumped at least $2 million into state races in Virginia this year.
In Ohio, voters are set to decide on Election Day whether or not to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution via a state ballot initiative. Pro-life activists have been working to counteract pro-abortion advocates there, though abortion supporters have significantly outraised pro-life efforts in the lead-up to the election.
Daniel Payne is a senior editor at Catholic News Agency. He previously worked at the College Fix and Just the News. He lives in Virginia with his family.