Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., said if the Democratic Party tried to drive away pro-life lawmakers such as himself, "it would be a disaster," Reuters reported.
"It would be a disaster. . . we need to make sure we are a big-tent party," Lipinski told Reuters.
A half-dozen national groups that support gay rights, workers' rights, and women's issues say Lipinski's socially conservative viewpoints are not in line with the district that elected him to Congress in 2004, Reuters reported.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., endorsed Marie Newman, a candidate running to unseat Lipinski.
"My values, the district and the nation are all in alignment," Newman said.
Lipinski's supporters see the fight in the primary as a waste of Democratic resources.
"We have so many other districts that we could focus on and try to pick up those seats," said Kristen Day, the executive director of anti-abortion group Democrats for Life of America, Reuters reported.
The congressman has earned back some support from his fellow Democrats. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reversed a previous position and is now supporting Lipinski, The Washington Free Beacon reported.
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