Abortion continued to prove a motivating issue for Democratic voters in Tuesday night’s primaries in Virginia, suggesting that its potency hasn’t waned in the months since the midterms.
The starkest evidence of that was incumbent Democratic state Sen. Joe Morrissey’s loss to Lashrecse Aird, a progressive former Virginia lawmaker backed by abortion advocacy groups and prominent Democrats including US Sen. Tim Kaine.
Morrissey, who represents parts of Petersburg and Richmond, is among a dwindling few Democratic public officials across the country who describe themselves as “pro-life.” Though he said he would not have supported Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s failed attempt to implement a ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, he did co-sponsor another bill that would have imposed a 20-week ban.
Similarly, in the 55th state house district surrounding Charlottesville, self-described “champion for women’s rights” Amy Laufer also won her Democratic primary against ER nurse Kellen Squire after accusing him of being untrustworthy in his support of abortion rights. She had described abortion as a personal issue for her after experiencing a high-risk pregnancy.
Abortion will likely continue to be top of mind for voters heading into the fall as they decide control of both chambers of the state legislature in a key swing state. Due to redistricting, every seat in both chambers is open. If Republicans consolidate power, they would be able to pass Youngkin’s proposed abortion ban, which was previously blocked by Democrats in the state Senate.
Currently, Virginia allows abortions up to about 26 weeks of pregnancy and, after that, only in cases where three doctors attest that the pregnant person’s life is at risk. It’s become a regional abortion hub since other states in the South have moved to severely restrict abortion. Youngkin’s proposal for a 15-week ban includes exceptions for rape, incest, and to save the pregnant person’s life….
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