State Sen. Kirk Schuring (R) was endorsed Tuesday by the Ohio Right to Life Political Action Committee in the race to replace retiring Rep. Ralph Regula (R). Schuring is running against state Sen. John Boccieri (D), who also considers himself an opponent of abortion rights.

“I am strongly pro-life and pro-family — and am excited to be the only candidate in this race to garner this important endorsement,” Schuring said in a statement.

The anti-abortion-rights PAC cited Schuring’s co-sponsorship of several anti-abortion bills, including those requiring parental consent for teenagers to have abortions and laws to ban late-term abortions.

“Kirk Schuring has been a strong advocate of the pro-life cause throughout his years in the Ohio General Assembly, and we are proud to support his candidacy for Congress,” said Mike Gonidakis, spokesman for Ohio Right to Life PAC.

The 16th district comprises Canton and the rural area west of the small city. The district has increasingly voted for Democrats on the local level. President Bush won the district with 54 percent in 2004.