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Democrat Nikki Budzinski, a union advocate from Peoria, and
Republican Regan Deering, an educator, small business owner, and
active philanthropist from Decatur, both won their primaries in
June for the chance to represent the newly drawn 13th district
in Illinois.
On Thursday, Budzinski held a news conference alongside EMILY's
List executive director Emily Cain and NARAL's vice president of
communications and research, Angela Vasquez Giroux.
During the news conference, Budzinski shared her stance on
abortion.
"I am someone that has been pro-choice my entire life,"
Budzinski said. "I am very honored that I interned for Planned
Parenthood in college, and I want to be a champion for women as
it relates to choice going to Congress."
Illinois' general election will be held on Nov. 8, with early
voting beginning Sept. 29. The election occurs in the wake of
the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe. v. Wade and sending the
issue of abortion rights back to the states.
Budzinski criticized her opponent, claiming that Deering has yet
to inform voters about her views on the issue.
"My Republican opponent Regan Deering, when asked this question,
could not give a simple yes or no to an important question that
impacts working women throughout the 13th district," Budzinski
said.
Deering issued a statement in response to her opponent's
comments, saying that the matter is personal for her, and that
Budzinski is out of touch with the people in the district.
"As someone who was given life by a brave mother who chose
adoption, the issue of life is personal to me," Deering said.
"Nikki Budzinski's false attacks are an attempt to deflect from
her own extreme stance on abortion that is out of touch with our
district that she just moved to."
Deering also said that she would not support policies she claims
that her opponent would.
"A bipartisan majority of Americans oppose Nikki Budzinski's
radical abortion policies like taxpayer-funding of abortion or
repealing parental notification for minors," Deering said. "I am
running for Congress to bring people together instead of feeding
into Nikki's polarization tactics to tear us apart."
By Andrew Hensel | The Center Square
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