The Democratic Party won't withhold funding from candidates that oppose abortion

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) said Monday that the party will not automatically withhold funding from candidates that oppose abortion, The Hill reports. "There is not a litmus test for Democratic candidates," said Luján. "As we look at candidates across the country, you need to make sure you have candidates that fit the district, that can win in these districts across America."

Many liberals are critical of that stance, with NARAL Pro-Choice America national campaign director Mitchell Stille telling The Hill that "throwing weight behind anti-choice candidates is bad politics that will lead to worse policy. The idea that jettisoning this issue wins elections for Democrats is folly contradicted by all available data."

Other liberal leaders, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), have supported Luján's position, "saying there’s room for people with different opinions on abortion," The Hill writes.

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"To pick up 24 [seats] and get to 218, that is the job," Luján said. "We'll need a broad coalition to get that done. We are going to need all of that, we have to be a big family in order to win the House back."