Campaign ads from Elizabeth Moro claim the Republican who wants to unseat Rep. Craig Williams (R-Chester/Delaware) “voted for an abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest.”
In fact, Williams was one of four Republicans who voted with Democrats in 2022 against legislation that would have allowed voters to amend the state constitution banning abortions. It did not pass.
Even more interesting, the bill referenced in Moro’s ad — PA HB1500 — would have banned abortions if the sole reason for the procedure was because the fetus had Down Syndrome. The state already has a similar ban on abortions solely for sex selection: aborting a baby just because a parent wants either a boy or a girl.
“This bill will expand that exception to prohibit aborting the child solely due to a prenatal diagnosis that the unborn child has Down Syndrome. Nothing in this proposal would interfere with the existing ability of a woman to obtain an abortion in cases of rape, incest or endangerment to the mother, which are contained in different sections of the Abortion Control Act,” sponsor Rep. Kate Klunk (R-Hanover) wrote.
Williams calls Moro’s attack “an absolute lie.”
Asked to respond, Moro defended the ads.
“Every single commercial was based on his votes,” said Moro. “Every single one is attributed to one of his votes and every single one is on Craig’s votes.”
Williams also objects to Moro’s ads, claiming he voted against education funding. Williams, however, voted for the 2024-25 budget that added a record $8.1 billion, a 3.62 percent increase, in basic education funding. He even participated in a press conference at Cheney University, where Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) thanked him.
“I noted that it was the education funding that garnered my yes vote on the budget,” said Williams. “The governor thanked me, and others, for our support of education funding.”
Williams said that when he was running in the primary for attorney general, earlier this year, he said he would enforce the Abortion Control Act that does not allow late-term abortions in Pennsylvania past 24 weeks.
Williams, a two-term incumbent who represents the 160th District, has been running positive ads touting his service to his constituents and avoiding attacks on Moro.
Williams served in the Marine Corps for 28 years, flying 56 combat missions, was decorated for valor in battle, and retired as a colonel. He served on the Joint Terrorism Task Force, was deputy legal counsel to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the War on Terror and served as chief prosecutor with the Marines. He was a federal prosecutor for the Department of Justice.
Williams knows his district is targeted by national Democrats. He believes Moro’s campaign has spent upwards of $1 million running the false negative ads.
Democrats have a slim, one-person lead in the state House, while Republicans are trying to reclaim the majority.
Long-time Republican advisor Christopher Nicholas with Eagle Consulting Group said of the Democrat ad blitz, “That’s how they’ve chosen to spend all the money that Shapiro gave them.
“If you’re a Republican House incumbent here, and in 2022 you survived Shapiro’s landslide win and the terrible redistricting that came down on the House side, I’m not sure there’s a lot left in the tank for Democrats to use to beat you this time.
“That said, I think the trading range for what the House majority is, come Wednesday, really only plus or minus two on each side. So, I don’t see either party getting much above 105 seats or so, either way.”
“I have fought for my country in combat,” said Williams. “I fought criminals in the courtroom. And I’ve been fighting for my district in the House of Representatives. I work every day to make my community and our children proud.”
“And I will continue to do so if reelected,” said Williams.
