Five things you need to know about Martha Roby

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Martha Roby

The primary elections are over, but some highly sought spots still remain open due to the primary races resulting in runoffs. One of those races is for the Alabama 2nd Congressional District seat.

Incumbent Martha Roby faced off against four opponents in the primary election, one of them, Bobby Bright, won enough votes to pull Roby into a runoff set for July 17.

Here’s five things you need to know about Martha Roby before the runoff:

1. She’s one of the most vocal pro-life members in the House.

Roby was one of the first to speak out on the House floor to raise awareness of Planned Parenthood’s role in the harvest and sale of aborted babies’ body parts for profit. She has fought to redirect taxpayer funding from Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion business, to comprehensive health care alternatives.

She is also a co-sponsor of the Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2017, which would ban federal funding for research using fetal tissue from abortion victims. Recently, she spoke in support of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. She also co-sponsored the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and managed floor debate on the bill.

2. She endorsed, then un-endorsed now-President Donald Trump.

In 2016, Roby had endorsed then-candidate Donald Trump for President. When the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape was published, in which Trump is heard saying demeaning things about women, Roby, now famously, retracted her endorsement.

She said then that Trump’s behavior “makes him unacceptable as a candidate for president” and suggested he step aside to let another Republican lead the presidential ticket.

3. She’s a big proponent of veterans, and Veteran’s Affairs in particular.

When Alabama Today asked Roby what her favorite area of service was, she replied: “Both my biggest responsibility and greatest joy in Congress is being in a position to fight for proper treatment for our nation’s veterans. We owe the men and women who have put their lives on the line in service to this great country the absolute best care available, but far too often we fall short. I remain committed to advocating for commonsense solutions to make the Department of Veterans Affairs work for veterans.”

Roby has been instrumental in bringing military jobs to her district, including fighting to keep eight C-130 aircrafts at Montgomery’s Maxwell Air Force Base, and working in Congress to help the Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Fort Rucker avoid crippling budget cuts that would have decimated training capabilities.

She has also been an advocate for Veterans Affairs and has worked tirelessly to address some of the misconduct at the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS).

2. She decided to run for office after hearing a graduation speech.

Roby was in her third year at law school, almost ready to embark on her dream career in the music industry when she and her (now) husband Riley attended Roby’s younger brother’s high school graduation ceremony. “The commencement speaker talked about the ‘brain drain,'” Roby said. “He mentioned how important it is to go out into the world and do all the things you dream of doing, but then to return home to serve your community in whatever way you feel called. The challenge had a profound effect on both of us. Shortly thereafter I kicked off my first campaign in my hometown for the Montgomery City Council.

1. She got a puppy this year

And she’s adorable. Also her name is Ruth Roby, how cute it that?

Beyond being an adorable companion, research has also shown that owning a pet can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and increase social interaction and physical activity, which sounds like the perfect fit for an on-the-go Congresswoman.

Meet Ruth Roby!!! Happy New Year! #puppy

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Ruth had a fun day at #DoggyDayCare #TiredPuppy #RobyOut

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