By Belinda Nicholas, NWPC Political Planning and Action Intern

On November 3, Glenn Youngkin defeated Terry McAuliffe in Virginia’s governor race. With a GOP governor, Virginia’s abortion rights could be headed in another direction. Once a leading state in women’s abortion’s rights, Youngkin may change Virginia’s pro-choice course. In April of 2020, Virginia passed the Reproductive Health Act of 2020 (SB 733) advancing women’s rights in the state. This progressive statute overturned restrictive health laws impeding on abortion access- including obstacles like a 24- hour waiting period, a mandatory ultrasound, forced closing of women’s health centers and unwelcome, partisan counseling services. Former Virginia Governor Northam described SB 733 as legislation that makes women “safer,” and noted he was “proud to sign it into law.” In March this year, Virginia state removed restrictions on health care insurance plans, enabling insurance plans to cover abortion procedures and facilitating women’s access to abortion services; it was clear Virginia supported women’s rights. 

Governor- elect Youngkin, infamously pro-life, however, promised to go “on offense” on abortion rights. He also supports “fetal pain” legislation, which prohibits abortions after 20 weeks of gestation. McAuliffe routinely reminded voters that Youngkin would end a woman’s right to abortion if elected to office, though that political move may be unwise, colliding with Virginian voter values. Exit polls on Election Day showed that the majority of Virginia state citizens support a woman’s right to choose. 

As of now, Virginia state is a destination for women looking to receive an abortion safely and effectively, especially as abortion rights are under siege in states like Texas and Oklahoma around the country. If Youngkin bans abortions after 20 weeks, women in the south and midwest would have one less state to turn to. Women in Virginia and in neighboring states count on stable abortion rights in Virginia, and cannot afford to lose another safe state. Youngkin may be a pro-life governor, but citizens can still vote in the 2022 midterms to elect representatives who will codify Roe v. Wade and protect women across the country. 

Citations:

1. https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/april/headline-856019-en.html
2. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/state-abortion-legislation-2021/
3. https://www.washingtonian.com/2021/11/03/how-glenn-youngkins-victory-could-affect-abortion-rights-in-virginia/

Belinda Nicholas is a third year at the University of Colorado Boulder where she majors in Political Science and Philosophy. She has a passion for American and comparative politics and hopes to attend law school after graduating to become a civil rights attorney. In her free time, Belinda enjoys reading biographies about women in politics, cooking vegetarian recipes and traveling.