Planned Parenthood Launches New TV Ads For Key State Senate Races

St. Paul, MN— Today, Planned Parenthood of Minnesota Political Action Fund launched TV ads for state senate candidates Sara Flick and Dr. Aleta Borrud. Flick and Borrud are champions for affordable birth control and expanding health care, and they are running against longtime incumbents with track records against reproductive health care.

The $200,000 TV ad buy lifts up the state senate candidates’ strong support for sexual and reproductive health care, affordable birth control, and expanding health care for all Minnesotans, regardless of where they live or how much money they make. Both candidates also believe insurance should cover birth control at no cost, regardless of employers’ religious beliefs.

“Our path to electing pro-health care Legislative leaders runs through our suburbs and regional centers, like Rochester,” said Tim Stanley, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Action Fund. “Planned Parenthood is proud to have been providing health care in Rochester for more than 40 years. Adding to our health care and education programs, this year, the Action Fund has grown our organizing team to connect with voters in Rochester, and we’re inspired by the strong support for reproductive health and rights in the area. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is a trusted messenger on health care, and Rochester is a health care town. It’s a really strong fit.”

Planned Parenthood of Minnesota Political Action Fund is spending more than $1.5 million this fall to educate voters and to elect sexual and reproductive health champions to state and federal office. The efforts include more than $400,000 in digital advertising and significant investment in voter outreach and engagement.

In 2018, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s organizing team connected with voters through more than 150,000 phone calls and doors knocked statewide, educating Minnesotans about the importance of electing leaders who support affordable health care and reproductive rights. This year, Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s staff and volunteers are using new technology to connect with friends and family about voting during the pandemic. These strategies are allowing us to make 675,000 contacts with voters by phone and text-- a 450 percent increase compared to 2018.

The Planned Parenthood Action Fund has endorsed 151 Minnesota state legislative candidates for public office this year and is targeting key legislative districts in an effort to put a reproductive health care majority in the Minnesota House and Senate. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund has also endorsed federal candidates, including Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Senator Tina Smith.