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U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, who changed his position on abortions seven years ago from pro-life to pro-choice, received the endorsement in the Ohio Senate race of NARAL Pro-Choice America, the oldest abortion rights organization in the nation.
"Over the course of his career, Rep. Ryan came to believe that we must trust pregnant people and families to make the best decision for their lives," said Mini Timmaraju, NARAL's president.
She added: "He is the leader Ohio needs to protect and expand access to abortion."
Ryan, D-Howland, said: "In the Senate, I'll keep working to codify Roe and to make sure every judge we put on the bench is committed to protecting this essential right."
Ryan announced in January 2015 that he would no longer identify as pro-life -- as he had done during his political career going back to his 2000 election to the state Senate. After having conversations with women, Ryan said at the time that he believed women had a right to choose whether to have an abortion.
Morgan Harper, an attorney and community organizer challenging Ryan in the Democratic primary, criticized the endorsement, saying it "unfortunately speaks to the continued marginalization of black women by feminist organizations."
She added: "Tim Ryan spent years in Washington opposing our fundamental rights and siding with anti-choice Republicans. Tim Ryan only started to support women's fundamental rights when the political winds changed direction."
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