INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, November 11, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) — In every one of the statewide races in which Indiana Right to Life made an endorsement, the pro-life candidate won on Election Day.
President-elect Donald Trump, who took the state with 57 percent of the vote, wasn't the only pro-life victory. In the U.S. Senate race, Republican Todd Young took 52 percent of the vote, defeating Democrat Evan Bayh. Young is a self-described “pro-life, pro-gun Marine who wants to repeal and replace ObamaCare.
Seven pro-life Republicans won seats in the U.S. House — several with as much as 70 percent of the vote. Only two pro-abortion Democrats will serve in the chamber from the Hoosier state.
In a tight race, pro-life Republican Eric Holcomb defeated self-described “pro-life” Democrat John Gregg for governor. Gregg used the Jimmy Carter line, claiming to be “personally” pro-life, but said often that he wanted a “truce” on social issues and admitted that he would have vetoed the pro-life bills signed by Gov. Pence, who is now the Vice President-elect. Gregg also said that while he was pro-life he supported 96 percent of what Planned Parenthood does.
Republican prosecutor Curtis Hill was elected Indiana's 43rd attorney general and the first African-American to serve the state in that position. Hill won overwhelmingly with 62 percent of the vote over Democrat Lorenzo Arredondo's 38 percent. Hill replaces two-term Republican Greg Zoeller, who did not seek re-election.
The pro-life Indiana sweep also claimed the Democrats' only statewide office holder, Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz. She not only supported abortion but actively campaigned with Indiana Planned Parenthood CEO Betty Cochrum.
Though she was an incumbent viewed by many as an “up and coming star” in Indiana politics, Ritz was defeated handily by Republican challenger Jennifer McCormick.
Pro-abortion politicians gained one statehouse seat near Chicago, but that gain was considered a washout because they also lost a Senate seat.
Micah Clark, executive director for the American Family Association of Indiana, summed up the sweep, telling LifeSiteNews, “The pro-life movement was strengthened in Indiana with this election, just as it was all across America.”
The pro-life leader added that at least in Indiana, being a pro-life Christian is no detriment to public service.
“One of the best things to happen this election for pro-life Hoosiers is that the constant media narrative over the last three years of attacking Governor Mike Pence for being a social conservative as a pro-life Christian, which the Democrat candidate for governor wholly embraced and perpetuated, fell completely flat with voters on Election Day,” Clark told LifeSiteNews via email.