(Source: MIRS.news, Published September 8, 2022) Rep. Jack O’Malley (R-Lake Ann), running in the competitive 103rd House District, lost the endorsement of Right to Life in the General Election over his evolved stance on supporting abortions in cases of adverse prenatal diagnoses.
Right to Life of Michigan PAC Director Emily Kroll said the organization received calls from the Traverse City-Leelanau County-based district about O'Malley's position, which conflicts with Right to Life's strict belief in no abortions except to save the life of the mother.
"After we spoke with Rep. O'Malley it was decided that he had changed his stance and so we will not be endorsing him in the General Election," Kroll said.
O'Malley responded, "I'm OK with it . . . There are some decisions that are between a family and their god."
A born and raised Catholic, O'Malley said he still considers himself right to life, but in talking with his constituents, he's come around to agree with them that there are certain pre-natal diagnoses in which extended life is difficult if not impossible.
In one case, a constituent was pregnant with a fetus that had no skull, he said.
"There needs to be some bumpers on this," he said. "It's not really my place to tell them what they can or can't do when we're talking medical necessities."
O'Malley is in a 50/50 district against Democrat Betsy COFFIA, who is among the top fundraisers among House incumbents and challengers in the 2022 cycle.
Speaking on the MIRS Monday podcast earlier this week, Adrian Hemond of Grassroots Midwest said abortion may be the defining issue in the 103rd House District. He said Northwest Michigan is trending toward the Democrats as more affluent retirees make the Traverse City area their home.
