From Peter’s Desk: After the Election
Tuesday’s election results are still incomplete for Lauren and me. We received about 24,000 ballot votes, there are many states still processing the write-in votes. Despite many inquiries about a final tally, I cannot report that number yet. Stay tuned!
I am profoundly grateful to voters, volunteers, campaign staff, and party members. We have received many messages from supporters expressing thanks and satisfaction for the option of a third-party, an alternative to the options presented by Democrats and Republicans. Many people expressed happiness at the prospect of voting for a presidential ticket with which they actually identified and agreed. It’s important for me to continue spreading ASP principles and its platform, so it continues to grow in recognition and produces other supporters to advance its principles in the public sphere.
I must single out Lauren Onak for particular thanks and praise (I am deeply grateful to her husband and family for their patience and acceptance, too!). Lauren’s commitment to the campaign, and perseverance throughout, were unflagging. Though continuing diligently as a wife, mother, and Natural Family Planning instructor during the last 18 months, she also added the task (and burden) of carrying the ASP banner boldly. Lauren was not simply a running mate; she was a friend, a sounding board, and a voice of reason and calm throughout the journey. She is a leader and a person who deserves our continuing respect and attention.
Inauguration Day Checklist
In my remarks Wednesday evening, I acknowledged Donald Trump’s victory and offered the following message.
Respect for human life must be the foundation of public policy. Many of the voters who elected Donald Trump earlier this week are deeply committed to the dignity and protection of human life. They deserve recognition for their confidence and support of the Republican Party. I promised in my own presidential candidacy to undertake the following actions, and now call on President-elect Trump to do so swiftly on his inauguration.
Restoration of the Mexico City Policy, an executive order prohibiting federal funds from being used for abortion abroad must be reinstated.
Revocation of the abortion-related executive orders implemented by President Biden after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision must be terminated.
Repeal the provisions in the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act that require accommodations for abortion and restore protections for religious employers in the same Act.
I also implore President-elect Trump to:
Request and sign federal legislation to protect human life. America needs one fundamental law of the land to define this requirement, not 50 different definitions by 50 states.
Reverse his position on the FDA’s continued authorization of the abortion-inducing drug mifepristone or Mifeprex, also known as RU-486.
Abandon his support for a program to fund In-vitro fertilization (or IVF) which results in the destruction of human embryos.
Pardon all those unjustly convicted by the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (or FACE) Act and seek repeal of the law altogether.
End federal funding for Planned Parenthood.
There are still more public policy initiatives that deserve implementation however these initiatives demonstrate a fundamental commitment for the respect of human life.
Mixed Results
Also Tuesday, grassroots efforts by these same deeply committed voters staved-off three of 10 state ballot initiatives that advanced abortion. Following is a summary (copy/pasted) from Secular Pro-Life’s Facebookpost. Abortion advocates outspent life advocates significantly in their efforts to pass the measures, which are all extreme.
10 states had abortion-related ballot initiatives.
5 pro-choice states: MT, NV, NY, CO & MD
MT, NV, and NY already had abortion to 24 weeks/viability, and CO & MD already had no gestational limits on abortion at all. We were 0/5 here - they of course all went super double plus pro-choice and passed their ballot initiatives.
2 "in-between" states: AZ & NE
AZ had a 15 week limit, NE had 12 weeks. We were 1/2 here - AZ enshrined abortion into the state constitution. On the other hand, NE voters got to choose between 12 and 24 weeks, and they chose 12.
3 pro-life states: MO, FL, SD
MO and SD had protection from conception, FL had it from 6 weeks. We were 2/3 here - we lost MO, which stings. We won FL, which is great. But last night the consensus seemed to be we'd either lose all 10 or maybe we would win FL. So it was pretty great to realize we won SD too.
Regarding campaign finance:
Across the 10 states in total, PL side spent about $25M to PC side's $214M. So they spent about 9X what we did.
Notably, only in NE and SD did PL spend more than PC: about 10% more in NE, about 60% more in SD. And those were both states we won.
But also notably, PC spent about half their cumulative money ($117M) in FL, over $100M more than PL, and still lost.
Overall, in the 7 states where PC won, they outspent PL by an average of 30X (3000%) as much.
What’s next?
This is the second most common question I’ve received, after queries about the final vote count. While I haven’t given any planning to next steps yet, as noted above, I am committed to advocating for third-party politics in general, and the principles that define the American Solidarity Party in particular. Again, stay tuned, and please stay in touch!
In solidarity,
Peter