N.J. Right to Life endorses Pallotta in NJ-5

Investment banker Frank Pallotta has scored the endorsement of New Jersey Right to Life in his campaign for the GOP nomination for Congress in New Jersey’s 5th district.

As a congressman, Pallotta has pledged to co-sponsor “Born-Alive” and “Pain-Capable” legislation and “help lead efforts to defund organizations like Planned Parenthood.”

“We look forward to working with Frank Pallotta in Congress to help pass pro-life legislation that will save the lives of babies in the womb and protect their mothers from the unscrupulous abortion industry,” said Marie Tasy, executive director of New Jersey Right to Life PAC.   “Frank has also pledged that he will vote to ensure that no taxpayer funds will be used to fund Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider.”

Pallotta faces former Cresskill Councilman John McCann and two others in the race to pick a Republican opponent for two-term Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff).

Gottheimer has a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood, as do the other 11 Democrats in the New Jersey Congressional Delegation.   Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) also has a 100% rating.  Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton), who served as executive director of New Jersey Right to Life before his election to Congress in 1980, has a 3% rating from Planned Parenthood.

National Right to Life gave Smith a 100% rating, but the rest of the delegation is at 0%.

The 5th district was represented for 14 years by Republican Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage), who also had a 100% rating from National Right to Life and 0% from Planned Parenthood.  Gottheimer unseated Garrett in 2016.

McCann, who won 42% against Gottheimer in 2018, has the organization line in Bergen County.  Bergen made up 56% of the primary vote two years ago.  Pallotta has the line in Passaic and the support of the Sussex GOP.

“I plan to work with New Jersey Right to Life, along with other pro-life leaders and organizations across the country to promote and nurture the culture of life,” Pallotta said. “We must do more to foster a culture of life in response to the extreme, ‘abortion-on-demand’ policies espoused by the left.”

Pallotta also faces teacher James Baldini and perennial candidate Hector Castillo in the primary.

Gottheimer is being challenged in the Democratic primary by Glen Rock Councilwoman Arati Kreibich.

New Jersey Right to Life is backing Robert Patterson for the Republican nomination in the 2nd district, where Van Drew is seeking re-election as a Republican.