U.S. House candidate Steve Watkins trumpeted the endorsement Monday of a prominent anti-abortion group, reigniting condemnation from Democrats who question his sincerity on the issue.

The National Right to Life Committee, which endorsed a Watkins rival in the GOP primary, praised the Republican for his "commitment to strengthening a culture of life." Watkins, who faces Democrat Paul Davis in the 2nd District race, promised to advance the NRLC mission.

“It is a true honor to have earned the endorsement of the National Right to Life Committee, an organization that shares my commitment to protecting the unborn and sanctity of life at all costs,” Watkins said.

Democrats who met with Watkins as a prospective candidate last year say his view has changed. They say Watkins pitched himself as socially liberal, although Watkins' spokesman said the Democrats were spreading lies. The Republican has rejected their version of events.

Chris Reeves, a Democratic operative in Kansas, said Watkins told Shawnee County Democrats he supports LGBT rights and highlighted his wife's work with Doctors without Borders, as well as her continuing work in a practice that performs abortion services.

Campaign finance records show Watkins and his wife donated exclusively to Democratic candidates before filing as a Republican in this race.

"The question a lot of us have is to what extent is anything Watkins says even remotely connected to the truth?" Reeves said. "He has only ever donated to Democratic candidates in the past, as did his wife. He told Democrats of his moderate views, now he has none."

During the GOP primary, Watkins' opponents questioned his commitment to conservative causes. Danedri Herbert, before she became the spokeswoman for Republican gubernatorial candidate Kris Kobach, attacked Watkins in an online blog she maintained under the pseudonym Gidget Southway. Watkins should be disqualified as a conservative, she said, because he was about to marry an OB-GYN who had worked at Planned Parenthood. The blog post was unpublished after Watkins won the party's nomination.

At a Bourbon County Republican Party forum earlier this year, Watkins described himself as "a pro-choice Christian."

Bryan Piligra, the spokesman for Watkins, said the candidate misspoke.

"This endorsement did not come as a surprise," Piligra said. "Since the start of this campaign, Steve has vowed to vote against any pro-choice legislation in Congress. Democrats are spreading lies about Steve in a desperate attempt to hide Paul Davis’ inexcusable support for late-term abortions as a career politician in the state Legislature. Voters know Steve will defend the sanctity of life unapologetically and will always fight for pro-life values."