Dem lawmaker to speak at annual anti-abortion rally in Washington

Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), one of the few anti-abortion Democrats on Capitol Hill, will speak at the March for Life this month after skipping the annual event last year during a tough primary challenge.

The Illinois lawmaker was scheduled to speak at last year’s rally, but bailed following criticism from abortion-rights groups that supported his primary opponent, Marie Newman.

He later said he did not want to share a stage with President Trump, who addressed rally participants via a live feed. Lipinski has spoken at the event in previous years.

{mosads}Abortion-rights groups like NARAL and Planned Parenthood fought to unseat Lipinski in 2018, with NARAL saying his planned speech at the 2018 March for Life was “proof of his extreme agenda.”

But he was bolstered by anti-abortion groups like the Susan B. Anthony List.

Other lawmakers speaking at this year’s rally include Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), chairman of the House Pro-Life Caucus.