As Lipinski told CNA on Wednesday, he has not seen the support he has desired from pro-life groups and individuals while he faces one of his toughest re-elections yet.
While Democratic party leaders have acknowledged the possibility of pro-life Democrats-House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Mary.) said in September that "Absolutely there's room in our party" for pro-life members- and some of Lipinski's colleagues refuse to undermine him, others in the party, including progressive Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), have openly or quietly supported Newman's campaign.
"So it disappoints me at times, when people say that they're not going to support me," Lipinski said of pro-life voters.
The congressman gave the example of his vote to impeach President Donald Trump in December as a possible sticking point with some in the movement.
"I think that [vote] should have nothing whatsoever to do with supporting a pro-life candidate," he said.
The day the House voted to impeach President Trump, the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List issued an indictment of the vote and said it "will be a huge political liability for House members going into 2020."
But the pro-life movement needs both parties to thrive moving forward, Lipinski said.
"I think that if the pro-life movement is going to be confined to one party, it would be even more difficult to ever get anything done to protect life," he said.
"It will be easier for the Republican Party to take pro-life voters for granted-even easier than it is right now."
Lipinski will not be attending the national March for Life in Washington, D.C., as the House will not be in session that week. He said he will be campaigning in his district with the primary approaching on March 17.
However, Lipinski will address the Chicago March for Life this Saturday, and will speak at a pro-life dinner around that march as well.
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Matt Hadro was the political editor at Catholic News Agency through October 2021. He previously worked as CNA senior D.C. correspondent and as a press secretary for U.S. Congressman Chris Smith.