WE CAN PROTECT OUR RIGHTS BY SUPPORTING PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATES IN THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS
Rage is not too strong a word. Whether you are a young woman or someone who has fought for rights that seemed to be guaranteed—and if you are feeling rage—it is time to turn that rage into action. For so long, we did take for granted the constitutional guarantee of a woman’s right to an abortion. But now it seems that right will be taken away, at least in 26 states. Yes, we are lucky to live in California, but so many women, especially poor women and women of color, don’t have that luck. As Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann said at the rally in support of abortion rights, “Our only choice in the next election is to hold the House and get a Senate majority. We have to do it. We have to do it now.” 

There are many good candidates running across the country in the mid-term elections. The out of the area candidates recommended here have elections coming up soon. WPC members should do what they can do work with their campaigns (visit their websites to learn how) and/or donate money. Of course, you should support WPC’s endorsed candidates too (locally, Laura Capps, Susan Salcido, Gregg Hart, and Salud Carbajal; and statewide, Alex Padilla, Gavin Newsom, Eleni Kounalakis, Shirley Weber, Rob Bonta and Tony Thurmond).

We had hoped that the 2020 election would mean a return to normalcy, but we are still living with the consequences of the Trump presidency. Nowhere is that more obvious than the three conservative appointees to the Supreme Court, now poised to reverse Roe v Wade. There is a way to protect our rights—equal rights, voting rights and abortion rights. That way is by codifying those rights into federal law. And that can only happen if we hold the House majority and elect Senators who will protect our rights. We can do that.
CANDIDATES TO SUPPORT

Congresswoman Katie Porter represented the 45th Congressional District in Orange County, California but is now running for reelection this year in a newly drawn Coastal District, encompassing where she lives in Irvine, but excluding much of her current House seat. The race is expected to be one of the most expensive in California. She is running against former GOP Assembly leader Scott Baugh, an Attorney, who is endorsed by Senator Ted Cruz and Congressman Kevin McCarthy and others of their persuasion. Three other Republican challengers, include Brian Burley(a Right to Life advocate,) Amy Phan West (Member of Protect the Unborn) and Errol Webber (who has stated that he is opposed to abortion)

Katie Porter has stood up to efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, restrict access to birth control, and ban the right to a safe and legal abortion, and is the proud co-sponsor of mulitple bills that would expand access to reproductive healthcare. She is committed to working towards a society where all Americans can live their authentic lives free from discrimination and hate, and will continue to fight for a federal paid leave program that guarantees workers the ability to take paid leave when they need it.


Christy Smith is running, for the Third time, for the 25th Congressional District, which is the Northern end of Los Angeles County and includes Santa Clarita. It is a traditionally Conservative District. In 2020, Smith ran against Republican Congressmember Mike Garcia and earned 36,000 more votes than any other Democrat in the District's history and came within 333 votes of winning in one of the closest congressional races in the nation.  

With abortion rights under attack, Christy has been a steadfast defender of the right to choose, which is why she has a 100% scorecard from Planned Parenthood. She’ll push back against Republican efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade and end funding for Planned Parenthood, protect abortion rights in federal law, and protect the ability to buy contraceptives. She also believes that Healthcare is a human right and while the Affordable Care Act was a tremendous step in that direction, we need to do more to reduce costs, ensure that every American has access to affordable healthcare, and protect those with pre-existing conditions.

Representative Mike Garcia Voted against the Women’s Health and Protective Act of 2021; According to California Catholic Daily, Garcia opposes abortion and does not support federal funding of Planned Parenthood After winning the special election, he signed a petition to bring the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to the House floor for a vote. Garcia has cosponsored proposed legislation that would virtually ban abortion and some forms of birth control. Garcia also voted against the Equality Act, calling it "contrary to American ideals".


Look in the dictionary for the word “activist” and you will see a picture of Stacey Abrams – former deputy City Attorney for Atlanta, former Georgia state legislator, lawyer, author, law professor, founder of the FAIR FIGHT organization to address voter suppression, and candidate for Georgia governor.  

In 2018 she was the first African American female from a major party to run for governor in the United States. She lost that election but is running a strong campaign for governor of Georgia in the November 2022 election.  

Immediately upon hearing about the leak of the Supreme Court draft opinion on Roe v Wade, Abrams called for increased donations to women’s health and abortion services clinics. In addition to her support of women’s rights and equality, Abrams stands for Medicare expansion, expansion of gun control laws, and community policing. 

Laws and policies affecting quality of life for women and families are made by elected at every level, including governors. Stacy Abrams will bring feminist values to the Georgia State House.


Senator Warnock was elected to the United States Senate in the January 5, 2021, in a special election runoff for the term ending January 3, 2023. Georgia’s first Black Senator now faces a tough re-election for a full term.

The Democrat, who is also head pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, has never been shy about supporting abortion rights. In fact, the longtime civil rights activist drew the ire of conservatives on Twitter recently for declaring himself a “pro-choice pastor” and reiterating his support for a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion.
“As a pro-choice pastor, I’ve always believed that a patient's room is way too small for a woman, her doctor, and the United States government,” he said. “I'll always fight to protect a woman's right to choose. And that will never change.”
Biden's approval has taken a nosedive in Georgia, with only about a third saying they approve of the job he's doing. The leading Republican in the race is former NFL running back Herschel Walker. Walker, a former Heisman-winning University of Georgia Bulldog, has Trump's endorsement and is facing allegations of domestic abuse from past relationships. Polls have had them neck and neck.
 
In his two years in office, Warnock has concentrated on efforts to expand Medicaid and has voted for the Relief for Families Act, the John L. Lewis Voting Rights Act and to confirm Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. He is an advocate for gay marriage and LGBTQ rights. He has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood and promotes the codification of Roe v Wade. He needs support to keep this Senate seat.