But a DNC aide told The Hill Thursday that Perez doesn’t think there should be a litmus test on this issue for Democrats who want to run for office, and he won’t abandon support for anti-abortion candidates.

“Tom doesn’t believe in litmus tests and never said he doesn’t support pro-life candidates,” the DNC aide said.

Former Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) told The Hill that Democrats shouldn’t dismiss anti-abortion lawmakers or candidates, especially if they want to make inroads with voters in more rural and conservative areas.

Stupak, who served in Congress for nearly two decades, co-authored the Stupak-Pitts amendment that would have prohibited insurance providers participating in the ObamaCare exchanges from getting federal funds to cover abortions.