Congressman George Holding defeated Congresswoman Renee Ellmers in Tuesday’s Republican primary for South Carolina’s 2nd District congressional primary, a race a number of pro-life leaders had taken special interest in for the latter’s role in derailing the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act last year.
In January 2015, despite a vote on the bill to ban abortions at 20 weeks having been scheduled to coincide with the March for Life, Ellmers raised objections, arguing it was too extreme to require that women report rapes to qualify for the rape exception.
Both the National Right to Life Committee and Susan B. Anthony List condemned Ellmers for her actions and endorsed Holding, a co-sponsor of the 20-week abortion ban, to replace her.
A press release from the Susan B. Anthony List reported last night:
Below are key findings from SBA List’s door surveys…
- 37.8% of Ellmers’s own supporters said they were less likely to vote for her knowing her role in derailing the Pain-Capable bill.
- 67.3% of undecided pro-life primary voters were less likely to vote for Ellmers knowing her role in derailing the Pain-Capable bill.
SBA List president Marjorie Dannenfelser stated, “[Ellmers] has her own failed leadership to blame for this loss.”
Holding won by an approximate 30-point margin, the day after presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump endorsed Ellmers. The defeated Ellmers spun her defeat by declaring, “Unfortunately, today the special interest groups, super PACs and their deep pockets won.”
