Shortly after the July 1989 U.S. Supreme Court Webster decision, in which the Court allowed the first dangerous restrictions on abortion since the Hyde Amendment was found Constitutional, the Personal PAC Board of Directors moved to dramatically expand its role in Illinois politics.

During the 1980s, the Illinois General Assembly was one of the most anti-abortion in the entire nation, with outspoken national anti-abortion leaders in both chambers. The intensity of the anti-abortion sentiment in the Illinois Legislature at this time was highlighted when the Illinois House voted on a bill, “The Rapist Bill of Rights,” that would have allowed any man, even a rapist, to go to court and prevent a woman from having an abortion.

In November 1989, Personal PAC opened its first office in Chicago, hired staff and became immediately involved in the 1990 elections. It targeted several anti-abortion members of the Illinois General Assembly for defeat. In addition, a pro-choice Cook County Board President and several statewide pro-choice candidates were elected to Constitutional offices.

Building on those 1990 successes, 1992 became a banner year for abortion rights in Illinois as many anti-abortion incumbent leaders and challengers, both Democrats and Republicans, were defeated by solidly pro-choice candidates in House and Senate races across Illinois.

In 1992, abortion services were restored at Cook County Hospital in an attempt to meet the overwhelming need of poor women whose access to legal abortion was deeply curtailed by state and federal restrictions on Medicaid funding for abortion. Personal PAC’s involvement in key targeted races with its voter identification phone calls to tens of thousands of voters, direct mail, campaign consulting and Get-Out-The-Vote strategies made the difference. As a result, the Illinois General Assembly went from one dominated by anti-abortion activists to one that was nearly divided on many abortion related bills.

In 1994, there was a re-emergence of the anti-abortion movement across the country, pro-choice forces kept pace in Illinois as many pro-choice Republicans and Democrats were re-elected in tough races.  In 1994, a record number of ten out of 17 pro-choice Commissioners were elected to the Cook County Board as well as another pro-choice Cook County Board President.

In the elections of 1996, 1998 and 2000, Personal PAC remained steadfast in its bi-partisan commitment to electing and re-electing pro-choice Democrats and Republicans to the Illinois General Assembly. Many of these established themselves as pro-choice leaders by sponsoring landmark initiatives pertaining to reproductive health care access. In these election cycles, several more anti-abortion leaders were targeted by Personal PAC and were defeated by pro-choice challengers. 

In 2002, The Illinois House and Senate became more pro-choice legislative bodies and the Cook County Board of Commissioners moved up to 13 of 17 pro-choice Commissioners. Personal PAC expended an unprecedented amount of resources to ensure these 2002 election victories and pushed forward to ensure that access to reproductive health care was expanded to meet the needs of more women and their families.

The 2004 elections saw sharp setbacks for abortion rights forces across the nation. Personal PAC continued to help elect pro-choice candidates and Illinois emerges as one of the most pro-choice states anywhere between the two coasts.  

In 2006, Personal PAC was instrumental in electing seven new pro-choice Senators, strengthening the Illinois Senate's pro-choice caucus.

The 2008 elections resulted in the re-election of many pro-choice Senators and Representatives. Incumbents who cast anti-choice votes were defeated in close elections.

The 2010 elections are the most significant in over a decade. Every constitutional office is up for election as are four of the seven Illinois Supreme Court seats. All 118 members of the Illinois House and 13 of the Illinois Senate will face voters. Al 17 Cook County Commissioners, Cook County Board President and other county offices will be on the February 2^nd and November 2^nd ballot. Personal PAC’s highest priority for 2010 is the passage of the Reproductive Health and Access Act and making absolutely certain there are enough members of the Illinois General Assembly and a pro-choice Governor to make access to reproductive health the law of the land in Illinois.

Personal PAC and its supporters must be committed more than ever to the strategy of the past 20 years that has helped Illinois go from one of the most anti-abortion states to one that protects abortion rights, at least for now.

We are only one election away from losing our pro-choice momentum.