The Tennessee Right to Life announced this week its list of endorsees for this year’s statewide elections.
“Tennessee Right to Life exists to promote public respect for the dignity of every human life, especially those threatened by abortion, infanticide, partial-birth abortion, assisted suicide, or euthanasia,” according to the organization’s website. “TRL advocates the protection of human life without regard to age, handicap, condition or social position.”
Of the nearly 70 endorsees, all are members of the Republican Party, which is traditionally known as the pro-life party.
Notably, incumbent Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R), who is also a member of the State Senate, was endorsed by TRL.
Last month, McNally celebrated when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the landmark case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
“This decision is a huge win for the cause of Life. For too long, abortion policy in this nation has been controlled by the federal judiciary,” he said in a tweet. “Now, once again, the voters of individual states will have the ability to make policy through democratic means.”
In Tennessee, the voters have already made their views known through the passage of a constitutional amendment that makes clear that no right to abortion is contained in our constitution.
— Randy McNally (@ltgovmcnally) June 24, 2022
Tennessee had a trigger law in place that took effect when Roe was overturned, banning doctors from performing abortions in the state.
Other notable endorsements include State Representative and Chairman of the House Republican Caucus Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby), who also has a strong pro-life record.
“The SCOTUS has apparently made the single most important decision of my lifetime by overturning Roe. v Wade,” he tweeted in May. “Abortion should never have been a federal issue. Abortion is a State issue that should be voted on by the people not left up to 9 justices.”
The SCOTUS has apparently made the single most important decision of my lifetime by overturning Roe. v Wade.
Abortion should never have been a federal issue. Abortion is a State issue that should be voted on by the people not left up to 9 justices. https://t.co/fgLpd6fGo4
— Jeremy Faison (@JeremyFaison4TN) May 3, 2022
Faison’s comments came on the heels of a May leak of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe, which was not official at the time but caused major controversy.
“Receiving Tennessee Right to Life’s endorsement on the heels of this hard-fought victory is a particularly special honor,” Faison told The Tennessee Star Tuesday. “Tennessee Republicans will never stop working to advance and uphold the pro-life and pro-family values held by an overwhelming majority of this state. We will continue our commitment to defend the defenseless and support legislation that protects the sanctity of life.”
Tennessee’s House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) also received an endorsement from TRL.
Sexton has a 100 percent rating from TRL on the issue of life, and voted in favor of HB 2263, the bill that banned abortions after a heartbeat is detected.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Randy McNally” by Adam Kleinheider. CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo “Jeremy Faison” by Ncrawford604. CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo “Cameron Sexton” by Tennessee General Assembly. Background Photo “Tennessee State Capitol” by Ken Lund. CC BY-SA 2.0.
