Scoop: Dems pummel Ex-Freedom Caucus chief on abortion
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Rep. Scott Perry at the Capitol on June 5, 2024. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images.
Former Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry's (R-Pa.) support for a strict anti-abortion measure is coming back to haunt him in a new Democratic ad, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Democrats' fight to retake the House has homed in on reproductive rights and singled out lawmakers like Perry with long anti-abortion records.
- Perry's district voted for former President Trump by 4 percentage points in 2020 — down from 10 points in 2016.
- Democrats are looking at it as a prime pickup opportunity; Cook Political Report moved it to "Lean Republican" from "Likely Republican" late last year.
- Nationwide, Democrats have hammered on abortion to cast themselves as the party of freedom and moderation — and to cast Republicans like Perry as extreme and out of touch.
Driving the news: The 30-second spot from Perry's Democratic challenger, Janelle Stelson, features her holding up a copy of the Life At Conception Act with Perry's name highlighted as a co-sponsor.
- The bill would define "each and every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization" as a human being, thus effectively criminalizing all abortions.
- Stelson says in the ad: "This is HR 431, the bill to ban all abortions in Pennsylvania and nationwide. And right on page one is Congressman Scott Perry."
- "Perry would ban abortion with no exceptions, even for victims of rape, putting politicians in the middle of your most personal decisions. That is just too far," she continues.
The other side: "There's one extreme candidate in this race when it comes to the abortion issue: Janelle Stelson. Stelson wants taxpayer-funded abortion – including up to the moment of birth," a Perry campaign spokesperson told Axios.
- The spokesperson said Perry "has made clear his entire career that he is pro-life, and makes exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother," also asserting that the congressman has been a "staunch advocate" for IVF.
Zoom out: The spot is backed by a nearly $300,000 ad buy from her campaign, a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson told Axios.
- The DCCC and House Majority PAC, House Democrats' primary super PAC, have collectively poured more nearly $3.3 million into ads in the district, according to data from AdImpact.
- That is compared to just over $500,000 spent by House GOP-affiliated non-profit American Action Network.
Zoom in: In addition to viewing Stelson as a strong candidate, Democrats see Perry as particularly vulnerable this year.
- The right-wing former Freedom Caucus chair was ordered to turn over his phone data as part of the Justice Department's investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the lead-up to Jan. 6.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Stelson's campaign (not the DCCC) is running the ad.
