Planned Parenthood Action Fund launches GOTV effort in Montana special election

Planned Parenthood Action Fund is making its debut in Montana’s special election with a six-figure get-out-the-vote effort in support of Democratic nominee Rob Quist.

The advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood announced on Wednesday that it will pay for mailers to reach out to 80,000 Montana residents and make phone calls to 60,000 voters.

Quist will face off against Republican nominee Greg Gianforte on May 25 to fill the seat vacated by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in the latest closely watched special election of the Trump administration.

“Rob Quist is the only candidate in this race that will keep politicians out of our personal health care decisions,” said Rachel Pauli, organizing and outreach manager of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Montana.

{mosads}“With women’s health under attack at the federal level, it’s essential that we elect Rob Quist to fight back against any attempts to block Montanans from accessing essential health care.”

With surprising turnout from Democrats for special elections in Kansas and Georgia, national and local Democrats are turning their attention to Montana’s open seat race.

Quist, a local folk musician, has also gotten support from House Democrats’ campaign arm and scored a coveted endorsement from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who plans to start campaigning with him in May.

Republicans, meanwhile, started investing in the race early. Gianforte, a wealthy businessman who ran for governor in 2016, received help from the House GOP’s campaign arm and a major GOP super PAC aligned with leadership.

First son Donald Trump Jr. also came out on the campaign trail to stump with Gianforte. The Montana Republican is trying to align himself closely with Trump, who carried the state by 20 points last year.