NEW: PA-GOV CANDIDATES EMBRACE TEXAS’ ABORTION BAN: LOU BARLETTA GOES ALL-IN

“I have always had a 100% pro-life rating. I will be a governor who signs pro-life legislation and there shouldn’t be any ambiguity about that.”

PENNSYLVANIA — Lou Barletta is all-in on the race to the bottom in the “Super MAGA” primary for the Republican nomination for Governor — he is eagerly embracing extreme positions on reproductive rights, even when he attempts to dodge questions. Barletta has shown there is no MAGA litmus test he won’t embrace, and he has made clear that receiving Trump’s endorsement is central to his campaign, saying to the AP in an interview, “I would love his endorsement and I’m going to try to earn it.” 

In a recent Philadelphia Inquirer article, Barletta doubled down on his extreme and out-of-touch views saying, “I’m not going to speculate about what the legislature would send to my desk, but I am pro-life. I have always had a 100% pro-life rating. I will be a governor who signs pro-life legislation and there shouldn’t be any ambiguity about that.”

Despite Republicans’ commitment to Texas’ abortion ban, a federal judge just temporarily blocked the ban. This record of going all-in for the far-right is nothing new for Barletta. When asked by WHYY about reproductive rights, a Barletta spokesperson said, “everyone knows that Lou Barletta is pro-life.” Barletta also co-sponsored legislation that outlawed abortion after 6-weeks and vowed as Governor to defund Planned Parenthood.

While “Loser Lou” proudly displays his support for unpopular pro-life legislation, including Texas’ abortion ban, to try to win the support of the far-right and Donald Trump, he’s got tough competition amongst the PA Apprentice hopefuls.

All of the contestants enthusiastically go on the record to highlight their dedication to unpopular anti-choice views. 

“Following Lou Barletta’s embarrassing 2018 loss, he should’ve learned the lesson that the only thing extreme far-right positions will get you is the nickname ‘Loser Lou,’ but instead he’s championing a Texas-style abortion ban,” said Pennsylvania Democratic Party spokesperson Marisa Nahem. “Barletta is now repeating the same failed playbook in order to please Donald Trump and the far-right, doubling down on dangerous and unpopular anti-choice views, but he’ll only be successful in reminding Pennsylvanians of the urgency in electing a Democratic governor.”

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