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QUEENS, New York, September 27, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – Lifelong community activist S.J. Jung ran in the September 13 primary for a New York state Senate seat. 

He fought an uphill battle from the start of his campaign because he is a pro-life Democrat.

Queens’ 16th Senatorial District is 53 percent Asian, and Jung’s contributions to the community made him a leading contender, but opposition from his own party sank his chances.

Jung is a New York Democrat who is pro-life, pro-family, openly opposes same-sex “marriage,” and has said publicly that pictures of gay couples should not be in elementary public school textbooks.

He met the fiercest opposition from his own party.

Gay City Councilman Daniel Dromm openly ridiculed Jung, saying, “He is ignoring reality. … What is he going to do, continue to deny reality? We're everywhere.”

Many leading New York women's groups gathered with Democratic legislators to denounce Jung at a press conference in August. Democratic Queens Borough President Melinda Katz slammed Jung for seeking “to abolish the most fundamental rights of women to make their own health care decisions.” Democrat Assemblywoman Nily Rozic said Jung “will betray the women of Queens.” Democrat City Council Member Karen Koslowitz accused Jung of being “an out of touch extremist” who wants women to go to a sleazy place and have an abortion with a hanger.” Democrat Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley said “Jung cannot be trusted.” Democrat Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas said, “Jung should be ashamed of himself.” Democrat state Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins — the Democratic Conference Leader — called Jung “the last thing that New York needs.”

The list goes on. Jung's own party effectively not just disowned him but funded the public fight to destroy his candidacy.

In contrast to Jung's fellow Democrats, pro-life leaders, regardless of party affiliation, praised Jung. “The sanctity of human life and the sacredness of marriage should not be considered partisan issues,” New Yorker’s Family Research Foundation Executive Director Rev. Jason J. McGuire told LifeSiteNews. “But sadly, for too many in the modern Democratic Party, life and marriage are issues to be shunned, not celebrated.”

Rev. McGuire rebuked those Democrats who opposed Jung. “Today’s Democrats should remember their social justice roots and embrace the protection of life as the most basic of justice issues,” he said.  “If a candidate wants to truly help working families, then they’ll recognize that children do best when raised by a mother and a father.”

“I applaud people of all parties who recognize timeless truths and take bold stands for them.”

In the end, it was a textbook case of party cannibalism. Jung got 42.3 percent of the vote and his opponent in the primary, outspoken pro-abortion incumbent Toby Ann Stavisky, who voted to legalize homosexual “marriage” in New York, received 57.5 percent.

For his part, Jung explained, “I believe life is precious and beyond comprehension.  While I will passionately advocate for woman’s rights such as equal pay for equal work, I would not support unfettered abortion. … You know, we pretend to know everything, but I completely disagree. Life is still a mystery, so I will not support women’s choice.”

While rejecting discrimination, Jung said he believes “in the Bible's teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman.” “As a nation, we must protect the rights and freedoms of all, regardless of their views on this matter,” he said.

He ran on a platform to end corruption in Albany, boost the economy, improve the quality of life of the residents of Queens, enhance its schools, and protect seniors.

Jung's service as a community advocate began with the MinKwon Center for Community Action, which he took from being a fledgling organization with no budget or staff to serving tens of thousands of New Yorkers through free legal clinics, housing counseling, civic participation program, citizenship applications, and tax assistance.

After he was defeated, Jung told NBC News, “I am proud of our clean and uplifting campaign through which we provided real solutions to long-neglected quality of life issues in Queens and the age-old problem of corruption in Albany. I will continue to tackle these issues and make my contributions to the community.”