Gov. Kay Ivey scores national pro-life PAC endorsement, prompting Hollywood backlash

Gov. Kay Ivey has landed another major endorsement in her bid to serve an additional four years as chief executive of the state of Alabama.

Ivey’s reelection campaign on Wednesday announced that the incumbent governor had been endorsed by one of the nation’s most prominent pro-life PACs, the Susan B. Anthony (SBA) List Candidate Fund.

Marilyn Musgrave, SBA List’s vice president of government affairs, touched on Ivey’s legislative achievements she had notched for the right-to-life movement.

“Governor Kay Ivey is a trailblazer and a champion for unborn children and mothers in the deeply pro-life state of Alabama,” said Musgrave in a release. “Our support for Kay goes back more than a decade, and she has always been outspoken in defense of life.”

“As governor, she has boldly challenged the national status quo of abortion on demand up to birth, signing some of the nation’s strongest legislation protecting unborn children throughout pregnancy,” added Musgrave. “Her authentic pro-woman leadership powerfully counters the lies of the abortion lobby and their extremist political allies. We are proud to endorse her for re-election and urge all Alabamians to vote for her on May 24.”

During her tenure as governor, Ivey has signed into law multiple pieces of legislation enshrining protections for the unborn.

Ivey in 2019 signed House Bill 314, which bans abortions from being performed after a fetus’ heartbeat is detected. Last year, she signed Alabama’s “born alive” law that created criminal penalties for doctors who fail to administer life-saving care to infants that survive abortions.

In addition to her legislative actions, Ivey joined with 12 governors around the nation in signing a brief, in what could potentially be the landmark case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade.

Ivey, a founding member of SBA List’s National Pro-Life Women’s Caucus, pledged to continue “fighting to protect the unborn.”

“I’m honored to accept this endorsement today from such a wonderful organization. I signed the strongest pro-life law in the nation because, as governor, there is nothing more important than protecting our innocent babies,” declared Ivey. “We defend them because they can’t defend themselves. And every life, no matter how small, is a precious gift from God. In Alabama, we will never back down, and we will never stop fighting to protect the unborn.”

SBA List’s endorsement of Alabama’s 54th governor drew the ire of a prominent Hollywood television writer.

Taking exception to Ivey accepting the endorsement was Bill Prady, co-creator of hit CBS sitcom “The Big Bang Theory,” who took to social media and appeared to accuse the governor of displaying antisemitism by way of her support of SBA List.

“The [SBA List] believes it should be illegal for Jewish women to follow the teachings of their religion,” the TV producer wrote in a tweet. “Is this the only [anti-Semitic] position you agree with, or are there others?”

Prady’s jab at Ivey is the second such attack lobbed at the governor from the entertainment industry in recent days.

Ben McKee, bassist for pop rock band Imagine Dragons, has regularly replied to tweets from Ivey as well as news reports covering the governor declaring his support of “trans rights.” McKee’s tweets toward Ivey began after she signed into law a bill shielding minors from gender-altering medication and surgeries.

Last week, the musician replied to Yellowhammer News’ tweet covering Ivey signing a tax relief package into law.

“Protect trans kids. Trans rights are human rights. I stand with the LGBTQIA+ community in Alabama, Florida, Arizona, and everywhere,” tweeted McKee.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL