The NARAL Pro-Choice America Political Action Committee has announced its first round of endorsements for the 2010 election cycle.

The pro-abortion-rights group has endorsed freshman Reps. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Betsy Markey, D-Colo., Scott Murphy, D-N.Y., and Mark Schauer, D-Mich.

Republican challengers have already filed to challenge Heinrich, Markey and Schauer, and Murphy is expected to have a tough race if local GOP leaders can find a top-notch candidate.

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said in a statement that Markey and Schauer defeated anti-abortion incumbents in Colorado and Michigan, respectively, while Henrich “is likely” to face an opponent who opposes abortion rights.
The PAC contributed $5,000 each to the campaigns of the four Democrats, according to the news release.