Two Democratic House members are endorsing a primary challenger looking to unseat fellow Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), one of the only House Democrats opposed to abortion rights.
Illinois Reps. Jan Schakowsky
Janice (Jan) Danoff SchakowskyOvernight Tech: States sue FCC over net neutrality repeal | Senate Dems reach 50 votes on measure to override repeal | Dems press Apple on phone slowdowns, kids' health | New Android malware found Dem lawmakers push Apple on public health risks, iPhone slowdowns Nadler wins top Dem spot on Judiciary MORE and Luis Gutierrez
Luis Vicente GutierrezListen: Capitol Hill vet goes behind GOP tax plan, and today's latest news Dems under pressure to deliver for Dreamers Hispanic candidates in Chicago are a bellwether for the country MORE threw their support Wednesday behind Marie Newman, a marketing consultant who’s running against Lipinski in the upcoming March 20 primary. The winner of that primary will be the favorite to win the seat in the November election, since it's considered solidly blue.
It’s unusual for incumbent members to endorse a primary challenger to a fellow member.
Newman and the two lawmakers will hold a press conference on Capitol Hill on the endorsements Wednesday afternoon. The endorsements were first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Progressives have been targeting Lipinski — a staunch anti-abortion lawmaker — and have sought to boost Newman’s candidacy in the Chicago-area district.
Those groups have targeted the congressman’s voting record which includes voting against the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and voting to freeze funding for Planned Parenthood. He was also one of only six House Democrats who voted in 2013 for a ban on abortions after 20 weeks.
Wednesday’s endorsements are Newman’s first ones from House lawmakers. She’s so far garnered support from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
Kirsten Elizabeth GillibrandTrump thinks he could easily beat Sanders in 2020 match-up: report Listen: EMILY’s List upbeat about Dem House in '19 Desperate Democrats shouldn't settle for Oprah MORE (D-N.Y.) as well as from the liberal blog DailyKos and national women’s right groups, including NARAL Pro-Choice America.
In an interview with The Hill from late November, Newman described Lipinski’s views on abortion rights, immigration and LGBT rights as “antiquated.”
But unseating an incumbent is a difficult feat. Lipinski, a co-chair of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition, has represented the district since 2005, when his father vacated the seat. He also has a significant cash on hand advantage over Newman.
Lipinski hasn’t faced many competitive primary challenges, telling The Hill back in November that his “voting record is very much in line with my district.”
Illinois's primary will serve as an early test for the Democratic Party's progressive wing and the issue of abortion within the party.
Some national Democratic groups have argued that a large tent on abortion issues will help the party in its battle for the House majority in 2018. But activists and other progressives believe that the party should stand by its platform by holding anti-abortion rights Democrats accountable.
Ben Kamisar contributed.