Ohio GOP slate endorsed by anti-abortion group

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio’s largest anti-abortion group has endorsed a slate of sitting Republicans in the upcoming fall elections.

Ohio Right to Life PAC’s backing of incumbent Gov. John Kasich and the rest of his party in the November election was expected.

In January, the abortion-rights group Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio endorsed an all-Democrat slate for statewide office in what was effectively the ticket’s 2014 campaign kickoff.

Right to Life provided pivotal political support to Ohio Republicans in 2012 by remaining neutral, citing constitutional concerns, on a divisive bill that proposed one of the nation’s most-stringent abortion restrictions. The so-called heartbeat bill would ban most abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected.

Right to Life officials, including its president and board chairman, have landed gubernatorial appointments to Ohio boards.