From NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, July 25, 2016: Mike Connolly, seeking the 26th Middlesex District seat of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in a Democratic primary election to be held Sept. 8, has won the endorsement of NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts.

“Mike Connolly has the right values to be a true leader in the fight to ensure that all women in the commonwealth have access to the full range of reproductive health care options, including abortion,” said Christian Miron, deputy director of the group. “This is a critical election for reproductive rights, which makes it essential to guarantee that we send pro-choice leaders to Beacon Hill who will actively work to promote a pro-choice agenda, including ensuring the right to abortion. Mike Connolly has demonstrated that he will lead the charge for reproductive freedom without any reservations.”

Although Connolly’s opponent, Rep. Tim Toomey, has stated that he would never vote to limit the right to safe and legal abortion, the group said that is contradicted by his record. Toomey has called abortion an “act of violence” on the House floor, and voted to restrict abortion access on a bill to codify a woman’s right to choose in state law, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts said. The group has rated Toomey as mixed-choice and anti-choice during his 23 years in office.

“To ensure that Massachusetts is able to advance reproductive freedom in the face of attacks upon abortion rights, we need a genuine pro-choice leader. Mike Connolly is that pro-choice leader, and we are proud to endorse him. We have every confidence Mike Connolly will actively work to remove barriers to abortion access, and will promote policies that expand access to reproductive health care,” Miron said.