WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Josh Hawley and Representatives Ann Wagner, Mark Alford, Sam Graves, Eric Burlison, and Jason Smith received the endorsements of National Right to Life and its state affiliate Missouri Right to Life for their reelection bids in 2024. In the race for the open seat in Missouri’s Third Congressional District, the groups endorsed Dr. Bob Onder. Each of these endorsed candidates is committed to advancing protections for unborn babies and their mothers.

“National Right to Life is pleased to endorse Josh Hawley for U.S. Senate and Ann Wagner, Dr. Bob Onder, Mark Alford, Sam Graves, Eric Burlison, and Jason Smith for the U.S. House,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Missouri women, their unborn babies, and their families deserve representatives in the U.S. Congress who will champion policies that protect the right to life and expand access to pregnancy support and alternatives to abortion.” 

The slate of endorsed Missouri candidates opposes the government’s use of tax dollars to pay for abortions. Senator Hawley and all six House candidates support the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, a bill that would limit taxpayer funding for abortions on a government-wide basis with exceptions when the life of the mother is at risk or in cases of rape or incest.

The candidates support the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, a bill sponsored by Representative Wagner in the House, that would ensure that an infant born alive during an attempted abortion is afforded the same degree of medical care as any other newborn of the same gestational age.

On January 18, 2024, the five House incumbents voted for the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act to ensure pregnancy help centers remain eligible for state-directed federal funds through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. They also voted for the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act to strengthen existing requirements for higher education institutions to publicly disclose the rights and resources available to pregnant and parenting students.

The entire slate of endorsed candidates opposes the so-called Women’s Health Protection Act, a sweeping piece of legislation proposed by pro-abortion Democrats that would enshrine unlimited abortion until birth in federal law and eliminate existing protections for unborn children and their mothers, including those currently in place and saving lives in Missouri. 

“These courageous candidates stand against Congressional Democrats’ radical pro-abortion agenda, which calls for a nationwide policy allowing unlimited abortion for any reason, even until the moment of birth,” added Tobias. “We urge Missouri voters to elect these pro-life candidates to Congress so they may work to build an America where life is protected, and women and families receive the care and support needed to make life-affirming decisions.” 

“Missouri Right to Life is proud to join with National Right to Life in endorsing these outstanding advocates for life,” said Susan Klein, executive director of Missouri Right to Life. “Each election cycle, Missouri Right to Life’s political arm works hard to research candidates’ positions, review voting records, and offer endorsements so that pro-life advocates in our state are informed and empowered to make a difference in their local communities and at the ballot box.”  

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of affiliates in each of the 50 states, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. Recognized as the flagship of the pro-life movement, National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.