Marjorie Dannenfelser | |
---|---|
![]() Jones in April 2017 | |
Born | Marjorie Jones 1965 or 1966 (age 58–59) [1] |
Education | Duke University ( BA) |
Occupation | President of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America |
Political party | Republican |
Marjorie Jones Dannenfelser is an American activist who is the president of the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, an American political organization that seeks to advance anti-abortion women in politics. [2] She was brought into the organization as its executive director in 1993, shortly after its founding by Rachel MacNair. [3]
Pro-abortion rights as a college student, Marjorie Jones was the "pro-choice chair" of the Duke University College Republicans. But a summer spent in a house for interns at The Heritage Foundation changed that, when "group-house drama" erupted over what Dannenfelser called an "inappropriate video". This dispute led to her conversion to Catholicism and a new anti-abortion stance, according to a 2010 Washington Post profile. [1] After graduating Duke, Dannenfelser worked for the Reagan administration. [4]
In the 1990s, Dannenfelser was the staff director of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, [2] and worked for U.S. House Representative Alan Mollohan (D-WV), whom the SBA List later worked to defeat in the 2010 Democratic primary. [1] [5] Mollohan was defeated in the primary by Mike Oliverio.
Dannenfelser re-organized the Susan B. Anthony List in 1997, after SBA List founder Rachel MacNair brought her on board as the first experienced political activist to join the group. [3] [6] Soon afterwards, Dannenfelser was joined by Jane Abraham to turn the SBA List away from MacNair's bi-partisan and liberal credo, moving to a Republican Party and conservative-oriented group. [7] Dannenfelser and Abrahama led SBA List until 2006, when Dannenfelser assumed both the chairman and president positions. The organization, headquartered in Washington, D. C., lobbies law-makers, and spends millions of dollars per year supporting candidates.
Dannenfelser endorsed the unsuccessful John McCain 2008 presidential campaign. [8] She supported McCain's running mate Sarah Palin, an anti-abortion politician, [9] noting that McCain alone did not engage the "disaffected" pro-life voter bloc. [10] [11] Dannenfelser called Palin the " poster child" for the anti-abortion cause, [10] though she later said Palin became a "great disappointment". [12] In September 2016, Dannenfelser became Donald Trump's campaign "Pro-Life Coalition" leader. [13]
Marjorie Jones was born, and raised, in Greenville, North Carolina. [14] She grew up as an Episcopalian, and attended Duke University. She married Martin Dannenfelser, who later served as vice president of the evangelical political activist group Family Research Council. [8] They had both worked as Congressional aides in 1990. [15] The two live in Arlington County, Virginia, where they raised five children. [16]
Marjorie Dannenfelser | |
---|---|
![]() Jones in April 2017 | |
Born | Marjorie Jones 1965 or 1966 (age 58–59) [1] |
Education | Duke University ( BA) |
Occupation | President of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America |
Political party | Republican |
Marjorie Jones Dannenfelser is an American activist who is the president of the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, an American political organization that seeks to advance anti-abortion women in politics. [2] She was brought into the organization as its executive director in 1993, shortly after its founding by Rachel MacNair. [3]
Pro-abortion rights as a college student, Marjorie Jones was the "pro-choice chair" of the Duke University College Republicans. But a summer spent in a house for interns at The Heritage Foundation changed that, when "group-house drama" erupted over what Dannenfelser called an "inappropriate video". This dispute led to her conversion to Catholicism and a new anti-abortion stance, according to a 2010 Washington Post profile. [1] After graduating Duke, Dannenfelser worked for the Reagan administration. [4]
In the 1990s, Dannenfelser was the staff director of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, [2] and worked for U.S. House Representative Alan Mollohan (D-WV), whom the SBA List later worked to defeat in the 2010 Democratic primary. [1] [5] Mollohan was defeated in the primary by Mike Oliverio.
Dannenfelser re-organized the Susan B. Anthony List in 1997, after SBA List founder Rachel MacNair brought her on board as the first experienced political activist to join the group. [3] [6] Soon afterwards, Dannenfelser was joined by Jane Abraham to turn the SBA List away from MacNair's bi-partisan and liberal credo, moving to a Republican Party and conservative-oriented group. [7] Dannenfelser and Abrahama led SBA List until 2006, when Dannenfelser assumed both the chairman and president positions. The organization, headquartered in Washington, D. C., lobbies law-makers, and spends millions of dollars per year supporting candidates.
Dannenfelser endorsed the unsuccessful John McCain 2008 presidential campaign. [8] She supported McCain's running mate Sarah Palin, an anti-abortion politician, [9] noting that McCain alone did not engage the "disaffected" pro-life voter bloc. [10] [11] Dannenfelser called Palin the " poster child" for the anti-abortion cause, [10] though she later said Palin became a "great disappointment". [12] In September 2016, Dannenfelser became Donald Trump's campaign "Pro-Life Coalition" leader. [13]
Marjorie Jones was born, and raised, in Greenville, North Carolina. [14] She grew up as an Episcopalian, and attended Duke University. She married Martin Dannenfelser, who later served as vice president of the evangelical political activist group Family Research Council. [8] They had both worked as Congressional aides in 1990. [15] The two live in Arlington County, Virginia, where they raised five children. [16]