Pro-abortion groups express support for Hinrichsen despite past donation to pro-life clinic
Colorado pro-abortion groups are standing by Democratic state Sen. Nick Hinrichsen after learning he made a donation to a Pueblo anti-abortion clinic in 2018, four years before he co-sponsored pro-abortion legislation at the state Capitol.
When reached by the Chieftain about the $50 donation to A Caring Pregnancy Center, Hinrichsen said he regrets making it and wasn’t properly informed of the clinic's practices at the time.
He also said he still has the support and endorsements from pro-abortion organizations throughout the state, including Cobalt, the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) and Planned Parenthood.
“A big part of our mission as an organization is voter education — including legislators," Cobalt President Karen Middleton said in a statement. “We have had multiple, thoughtful conversations with Sen. Hinrichsen and he is committed to policies that support abortion access and he trusts patients and doctors to make these decisions. He voted for the Reproductive Health Equity Act. He is where Colorado voters are and he has our full support and endorsement.”
“Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado has proudly endorsed Nick Hinrichsen’s candidacy," said Jack Teter, regional affairs director for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, in a statement. "Nick has been very candid about his evolution to become a champion for reproductive health care access. It’s a sign of strength and character when our views evolve as we learn new things. Voters should re-elect Nick next week, as his District 3 opponent could be the deciding vote in the Senate to restrict access to women’s health care."
COLOR did not respond to a request for comment prior to the Chieftain’s Wednesday deadline.
Hinrichsen is running against Republican Stephen Varela for the District 3 state Senate seat. Varela has previously declined to share his personal stance about abortion when asked by the Chieftain but said decisions about the state's reproductive rights policies should be made by voters.
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, abortion rights have become a key issue among voters and could influence how they vote, according to researchers at Rutgers University. A survey from The Washington Post also indicated abortion rights supporters and anti-abortion groups have ramped up their political activity since the Supreme Court’s decision.
Hinrichsen previously told the Chieftain anti-abortion legislation is about “controlling women” and applauded voters in Colorado for striking down ballot questions that would have limited abortion access over the past five years.
“Since becoming senator, I believe my record speaks for itself,” Hinrichsen told the Chieftain in a text message. “I’m proud to have been a co-sponsor of the Reproductive Health Equity Act. I’m proud to have a 100% voting record for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, and be unanimously endorsed by the reproductive justice community … I trust women to make their own health care decisions.”
Colorado is one of a few states that doesn’t restrict abortion access, paving the path for Pueblo to have its first abortion clinic in several years. Clinics for Abortion and Reproductive Excellence, a national abortion provider, purchased the property at 1930 E. Orman Ave. on Sept. 19.
The national provider has clinics in Nebraska and Maryland. It hasn’t set an opening date for the Pueblo clinic but expects to field patients from Pueblo, other Colorado cities, Oklahoma and Texas.
Chieftain reporter Josue Perez can be reached at JHPerez@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @josuepwrites.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pro-abortion groups support Nick Hinrichsen despite 2018 ACPC donation
