U.S. Reps. Bill Johnson and Dave Joyce, who represent the Mahoning Valley, are among only four Republican House members from the state not to be endorsed by the Ohio Right to Life PAC.

Instead, the political action committee for the state’s oldest and largest pro-life organization gave “preferred” status to Johnson and Joyce.

Meanwhile, Christina Hagan, the Republican nominee in the 13th Congressional District race against U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Howland, was endorsed by the PAC.

Candidates designated as “preferred” didn’t score 100 percent on the PAC’s 10-question survey, said Allie Frazier, Ohio Right to Life spokeswoman.

But “they are still believed to be a better candidate than their opponent in advancing the cause for life,” she said.

When asked specifically about Johnson, R-Marietta, and Joyce, R-Bainbridge Township, Frazier said both “have a 100-percent pro-life voting record, according to the National Right to Life Committee. We are grateful that when it comes to voting on pro-life legislation at the federal level, we have been able to count on their support.”

Johnson said he was “proud of my pro-life record, and I’m honored to have the consistent support of the Ohio Right to Life PAC.”

Johnson explained why he was preferred and not endorsed.

“I believe abortion is wrong except, in the spirit of Ronald Reagan, for instances like rape and incest,” he said. “The recommendation comes because the Ohio Right to Life PAC allows no exceptions for abortion in order to receive a full endorsement. Rest assured, I’ll continue to protect the sanctity of life.”

Johnson’s 6th Congressional District includes all of Columbiana County and southern Mahoning County.

Joyce couldn’t be reached to comment.

His district includes communities in Trumbull County.

In addition to Johnson and Joyce, the only other Republicans running for re-election to the U.S. House to be preferred rather than endorsed were Reps. Mike Turner of Dayton and Steve Stivers of Columbus.

Also, three of the four Republican challengers to Democratic incumbents, including Hagan of Marlboro Township, were endorsed. The PAC didn’t issue an endorsement in the 3rd Congressional District.

“I have never wavered from my commitment to protecting innocent life,” Hagan said. “I championed pro-life causes during my time in the (state) Legislature and will continue to do so in Congress.”

When she was an Ohio House member, Hagan sponsored the heartbeat bill that bans abortion at the point when a fetal heartbeat can be detected. She testified in favor of it in 2018 while having her twins in a cloth sling across her body.

“While more and more people across our nation are against abortion than ever before, Tim Ryan has become part of the Washington establishment and has flip-flopped on this critical issue like so many other issues,” she said.

Ryan changed his position from pro-life to pro-choice in January 2015 saying that discussions with women over time about the reasons for having an abortion led to his decision.

The 13th District includes most of Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

dskolnick@tribtoday.com