Grand Rapids, MI — The Right to Life of Michigan Political Action Committee has endorsed Jack Coleman in his write-in bid for the 59th State House district, which includes St. Joseph County and much of Cass County.
RLM-PAC Chairman Paul Miller said, “Jack Coleman is a prolife guy who is committed to serving everyone in his district, just as he served his country in the U.S. Navy. He has a credible chance of winning as a write-in candidate, so the RLM-PAC board decided to go with a historic first and endorse him as a write-in candidate for the November 3 election.”
The RLM-PAC has never endorsed a write-in candidate for the state legislature. The historic first was prompted by unique circumstances, including feedback from the district.
Miller said, “We heard from many prolife people in the district after the primary who were deeply troubled with the choice in the general election. Some even wondered if they were going to vote. We need every last prolife vote on deck in 2020. Jack Coleman is a great option that prolife voters can feel good about.”
Current Republican nominee Steve Carra opposed the recent Michigan Values Life petition drive to ban dismemberment abortions in Michigan, including publicly stating he would not vote for the ban as a legislator. Carra organized a disruption of a Michigan Values Life petition training in Portage on June 17, 2019. The event was secretly recorded, and the recording was used by Carra during a public event to disparage Right to Life of Michigan. Carra has a track record of other inappropriate statements and behavior regarding interactions with Right to Life of Michigan staff.
Miller said, “There may end up being a very small margin for a prolife majority in our State House. If any legislation to protect unborn children comes down to one vote, it is vital that vote be Jack Coleman, who will think clearly and put the unborn children first.”
In the August primary, Steve Carra won a five-way race. Coleman came in second place. The RLM-PAC board determined Carra was not a credible candidate, requiring a singular endorsement in the primary race. Though Coleman was determined to be credible, electable, and 100% prolife during the primary race, former Three Rivers mayor and current St. Joseph County Commissioner Al Balog was the sole candidate endorsed by the RLM-PAC in the primary.
Carra did not receive the RLM-PAC endorsement in his 2018 bid to unseat an RLM-PAC endorsed incumbent for a Kalamazoo County Commission seat, his only previous election run.
For more information: Right to Life of Michigan Director of Communications Chris Gast, (616) 304-5532, [email protected].
Background Information:
RLM-PAC Endorsement Criteria