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Senate Democrats, whose party officially supports abortion rights, have elected an abortion opponent as their leader. And Senate Republicans, whose party officially opposes abortion, backed a rare prochoice senator as chair of one of the Senate’s most powerful committees—despite a clamor from the right.

Nevada Senator Harry Reid was chosen by Democrats as minority leader November 16 by acclamation. Reid, a Mormon, is a longtime foe of abortion rights who voted in favor of a 2003 law that bans so-called “partial-birth” abortions.