Kathleen Kennedy Townsend on Abortion Former Democratic Challenger MD Governor

Endorsed by NARAL and EMILY's list

Townsend's likely general election opponent, Bob Ehrlich, says he favors abortion rights. But NARAL activists accuse Ehrlich of trying to mask his record and say he has frequently voted against bills NARAL backs.

Townsend's abortion views had garnered her financial support earlier. In the past year, she has received thousands of out-of-state dollars after receiving the backing of EMILY's List, a Washington-based advocacy group billing itself as a political network for Democratic women favoring abortion rights.

Recommended by EMILY's List of pro-choice women.

EMILY’s List operates as a donor network, recommending pro-choice Democratic women candidates to its members, who contribute directly to the candidates they choose. In the 1999-2000 election cycle, EMILY’s List members contributed $9.3 million to pro-choice Democratic women candidates. In its 16-year history, EMILY’s List has helped to elect four women governors, eleven women to the United States Senate and 53 women to the U.S. House of Representatives. “Women continue to be the power players in Democratic politics,” said Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY's List. “In 2002, redistricting could result in as many as 75 open seats, creating multiple opportunities to recruit and elect pro-choice Democratic women.”