Follow us on: Facebook – Twitter – Youtube – Instagram
The President of Planned Parenthood Alexis McGill Johnson spoke to supporters alongside Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Hala Ayala Wednesday afternoon. The discussion that was moderated by Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC Executive Director Jamie Lockhart, was about what is potentially at stake when Virginians elect a new governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and House of Delegates next week.
“I say this as someone almost exactly as old as Roe: We have never been so close to losing a fundamental, constitutional right,” McGill Johnson said. “We didn’t get here overnight –– this is the result of 10 years of rules change, gerrymandering, and court-packing.”
Abortion access has always been a prominent issue in politics but it was amplified even more after Texas implemented a six-week ban on abortions at the start of September.
McGill Johnson noted that the United States Supreme Court is taking up abortion access issues on Nov. 1. This scares advocates of Roe v. Wade with the majority-Republican appointed makeup of the highest court in the land who could potentially overturn or alter the landmark abortion access ruling.
This has advocates stressing the importance of stage legislatures to protect women’s healthcare rights.
“ Everywhere I go –– people ask me what they can do to help. In Virginia, the answer is clear,” McGill Johnson said. “We need to elect champions for reproductive rights, including Terry McAullife at the top of the ticket…When legislation comes to the floor in 2022 –– I want Hala Ayala breaking the ties and Terry McAullife signing the bills. That’s the future Virginians deserve –– and we have six more days to make it real.”
Hala Ayala, the former state Delegate who is now seeking to preside over the state Senate as lieutenant governor promised the viewers that she would protect women’s rights if elected. In addition to presiding over the state Senate, the lieutenant governor also breaks ties, something the current lieutenant governor did 52 times during his four-year term. “I want to be the last woman in the room with the governor and be able to advocate for reproductive rights,” Ayala said. “I give you my word that a McAuliffe/Ayala/Herring administration would fight to make sure that Virginians have affordable access to all types of reproductive health care.”
Ayala’s opponent Winsome Sears said recently that she would support the same bill that Texas implemented in September banning abortions once a heartbeat is heard, typically around six weeks. “What is your position when it comes to the pro-life issue? Will you be committed to support a heartbeat bill in Virginia?” the host asked Sears in an interview in September. “I can tell you that would be me, that I would support that,” Sears responded. “Because here’s the thing, when did it become the wrong thing for us to support the babies in the womb,” she continued.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin was caught on a secretly recorded tape over the summer saying that he cannot win in Virginia while discussing his views on abortion. “The short answer is, in this campaign I can’t,” Youngkin said in the video. “When I’m governor and I have a majority in the House, we can start going on offense, but as a campaign topic, sadly, that in fact won’t win me independent votes that I have to get.”
He has since said that he would support a ban on abortion around 20 weeks when a fetus is believed to begin experiencing pain.
Democrats have continued to attack Youngkin for the video, however, accusing him of trying to hide his real views. “Don’t let our opponents fool you into thinking that they don’t have an extremist agenda when it comes to abortion access,” Ayala said Wednesday.
For the Democrats who are facing an enthusiasm issue with Donald Trump out of office, they hope that healthcare access for women will inspire enough voters to head to the ballot box.
The latest polling shows a one-point lead for the three statewide Democratic candidates with less than one week to go.
Election day is Nov. 2.
Virginia Scope is an independent news publication that is funded largely by donations and subscribers. As local newsrooms are losing writers each day, we are trying to fill the void to ensure that the public is informed and that leaders are held accountable for their actions. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter or making a donation through Paypal below so we can continue to work in Virginia.
