Planned Parenthood launches new midterm investment

Link copied by Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi - 06/26/26 7:22 PM ET Link copied Presented by Healthy Women{beacon}

The advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood is pouring nearly $2 million into a campaign targeting vulnerable House Republicans, part of an effort to stop Republicans from permanently defunding Planned Parenthood health centers.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund on Friday announced the investment to target vulnerable House Republicans in battleground districts in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania. Specifically, the group is targeting: Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), Dave Schweikert (R-Ariz.), Gabe Evans (R-Colo.), Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Tom Barrett (R-Mich.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.). The $2 million investment will expand a $1.5 million campaign announced in April. Planned Parenthood Action Fund said it will fund digital advertising and on-the-ground efforts urging constituents to contact their members of Congress to oppose any legislation that attempts to make the defund permanent. A provision in last year s One Big Beautiful Bill Act blocked Planned Parenthood s health centers from billing Medicaid for the other services they provide, like contraception and cancer screenings. Medicaid is their primary source of funding, and the legislation meant they lost out on more than $700 million annually. That provision expires July 4, and Planned Parenthood wants to make sure it helps Democrats flip control of the House to ensure the defunding doesn t happen again. Medicaid is prohibited from paying for almost all abortions, but conservatives wanted to put Planned Parenthood and other clinics that provide abortions out of business. They argued women can receive the same non-abortion care elsewhere. As House Republicans move ahead on a third party-line legislative package, hardline conservatives are demanding that extending the blocked Planned Parenthood funding must be part of the discussion. Still, abortion remains a complicated issue that s creating a divide between hardline conservatives, anti-abortion activists and President Trump. When asked last month about pushing Congress to defund Planned Parenthood, Trump sidestepped the question and said it was is a very thorny issue.