Nebraska Democrats resist litmus test on abortion

As Nebraska Democrats prepare for the midterm elections, they’re hoping to avoid another incident like the national debate over abortion that sprang from this year’s Omaha mayoral campaign.

Democrats for decades have debated whether they should require their candidates to support abortion rights. But the debate reignited in April when U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders campaigned with mayoral candidate Heath Mello as part of a Democratic National Committee tour. On the day of the rally and after, Sanders was criticized for supporting Mello who, as a legislator, had supported bills that increased restrictions on abortion.

Mello’s supporters believe the abortion debate contributed to Mello losing the election.

Since then, some abortion-rights groups have been pushing the DNC to impose a litmus test on candidates and decline to support anyone who doesn’t support abortion rights.

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Many Democrats, including Jawed-Wessel, want to see the party throw its support behind State Sen. Bob Krist, an independent, who is challenging Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts. Both oppose abortion.

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/news/metro/nebraska-democrats-resist-litmus-test-on-abortion/article_b9685e77-8247-5a16-8af4-45a1fb5c1d68.html