
Planned Parenthood Action Fund takes an early position in key race to unseat staunchly anti-choice Republican incumbent
SAN CLEMENTE, CA – On Monday, San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan announced the endorsement of the Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood of Orange & San Bernardino Counties. Assembly District 74 is a fierce battleground for reproductive rights in California, with one pro-choice candidate running to unseat a staunchly anti-choice Republican incumbent.
“It is crucial we elect leaders who will prioritize and fight for reproductive rights and Equality,” said Robert Armenta, Jr., Senior Vice President of Public Affairs with the Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties. “With Chris Duncan, we can be certain of having an advocate who will work tirelessly towards ensuring that everyone has access to safe and affordable reproductive healthcare.”
Assembly District 74, which is currently represented by Republican Laurie Davies, is projected to be one of the most competitive races in the state. Davies has been criticized for her extreme position on abortion, wanting to outlaw abortion in California with no exceptions for rape or incest. Proposition 1, which enshrined the right to choose in the California Constitution, passed with 58% of the vote in AD 74 last November.
“I will always stand for reproductive health issues, including access to contraception and the right to make one’s own choices, including abortion,” said Duncan. “Women make up nearly half of the labor force, and when women lose income, economic security is diminished for them and their families.”
Duncan surprised political insiders last cycle by making the race for Assembly District 74 in South Orange County competitive for the first time in history and among the most hard-fought legislative battles in California. The Republican incumbent, the GOP, and their special-interest backers were forced to spend well over $1 million to defend the seat in 2022, and a rematch amid the higher turnout Presidential election is expected to make the race even more competitive this time around.
Duncan is a graduate of California public schools and holds law degrees from Georgetown University Law Center and the University of Hawaii School of Law, along with a B.A. in Political Science from Boston College. Prior to becoming the Mayor of San Clemente, he served in both Republican and Democratic administrations as a Senior Homeland Security Attorney and Federal Prosecutor. A life-long Californian, he lives in the Talega neighborhood of San Clemente with his wife Haley, a small business owner, and their three kids.
To learn more about Chris Duncan and his campaign, visit his website, votechrisduncan.com. Follow Chris Duncan on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.