KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A recent campaign ad against Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Bollier, paid for by the Senate Leadership Fund super-PAC, focuses on abortion.
Senate Leadership Fund is a Virginia-based political action committee, according to the Federal Election Commission. Its goal, according to the Senate Leadership Fund website, is "to protect and expand the Republican Senate Majority."
The group's commercial criticizes Bollier for her 'no' vote in the Kansas House of Representatives against a bill that would restrict abortions after 22 weeks. The claim references House Bill 2218, which references medical research that a fetus can feel pain as early as 20 weeks.
Bollier currently serves as a Kansas senator and previously served as in the Kansas House of Representatives when she voted on the legislation.
Voting records show Bollier did vote against H.B. 2218 in 2011.
The Wichita Eagle reported in 2011 that Bollier defended her vote by disputing the research in the bill.
"No one really knows, and it's based on false research," Bollier told the Wichita Eagle. "It's not universally held, and I would be embarrassed to be a state that bases its laws on untruths."
Abortion is not directly mentioned on Bollier's campaign website, but she said in the U.S. Senate she will "let women and their doctors determine what care they need without government interference."
Megan McQuinn, who had an abortion at 21 years old, is one those women.
“I was manipulated and lied to by my partner, and I unfortunately found myself pregnant," McQuinn said. "I have never wanted to have children, so while it was a very tough decision for me, it was something that ultimately was the right decision for me to make."
Bollier is running against Republican U.S. Representative Roger Marshall, whose campaign website states that "abortion is wrong at any stage."
Kelly Carter agrees with Marshall. She had an abortion in her late teens and was never able to have children again.
“I was suicidal," Carter said. "I didn’t have a plan, but I did feel like the hurting inside, and it was like cancer that was eating me up because I couldn’t get rid of it. I couldn’t get rid of what I had done to myself."
As the November election nears, both women hope people consider their perspective.
“I think the biggest thing is to be educated about what you're asking yourself to do," Carter said. "Be educated about what your boyfriend is asking you to do and what your parents may be asking you to do."
McQuinn said that from the outside people "never know the situation that women are in."
"You don’t know the circumstances that women are facing when they have this decision," McQuinn said.
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