Planned Parenthood Arizona’s political arm demands that candidates denounce the support of law enforcement groups in order to obtain the group’s endorsement.
According to a report from Axios, the group formally adopted a policy to require candidates to deny financial donations from law enforcement organizations and return any donations received.
“We’ve been very clear that in and environment where police will enforce abortion bans we are looking for candidates who would stand up to attempts to stifle reform of our criminal justice system. Donations from law enforcement stop progress,” Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona’s former board chair Chris Love tweeted.
We’ve been very clear that in and environment where police will enforce abortion bans, we were looking for candidates who would stand up to attempts to stifle reform of our criminal justice system. Donation from law enforcement stop progress. https://t.co/22P9dsgdNe
— Chris Love (@LegallyLove) July 10, 2022
In Arizona, the group has made multiple endorsements at the state and local levels, including Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs.
“Katie Hobbs is no friend of police, and her promise to reject law enforcement’s support in order to receive a political endorsement is living proof of her radical agenda,” said RGA spokesman Will Reinert. “Katie Hobbs won’t keep the border secure from gangs and cartels crossing the border and won’t back the blue as they try to keep Arizona’s neighborhoods safe from that same threat.”
Hobbs is the likely Democratic nominee and would face the winner of the Republican nominee in the November general election.
GOP candidate Karrin Taylor Robson, who has been endorsed by the National Troopers Coalition and National Border Patrol Council, called the action “disqualifying.”
“INCREDIBLE! The radical pro-abortion @PPArizona not only requires its endorsed candidates to support abortion-on-demand, they must oppose the police also,” Taylor Robson wrote in a tweet. “This is disqualifying for @katiehobbs and every Democrat candidate receiving Planned Parenthood’s support.”
INCREDIBLE! The radical pro-abortion @PPArizona not only requires its endorsed candidates to support abortion-on-demand, they must oppose the police also.
This is disqualifying for @katiehobbs and every Democrat candidate receiving Planned Parenthood’s support. https://t.co/h4X3uP9Ake pic.twitter.com/9vgrQrcnVf
— Karrin Taylor Robson (@KTaylorRobson) July 13, 2022
Hobbs is not the first candidate that has been connected to political groups that oppose law enforcement. Vulnerable Congressman Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ-01) accepted thousands in donations from a super PAC that asks candidates to support measures to “reduce the annual budget for law enforcement and defense spending.”
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Arizona State Troopers” by Arizona Department of Public Safety.
