Staff Reports
Get ready for an exciting showdown in the Virginia state elections this November! The Republicans are determined to defend their majority in the House of Delegates and snatch back control of the state Senate. Governor Glenn Youngkin, the first Republican to hold the office since 2009, played a pivotal role in flipping the House of Delegates in 2021. Now, he’s throwing his weight behind pro-life candidates running in both chambers, much to the dismay of the far-left, pro-abortion HuffPost.
HuffPost Is Surprised Pro-Life Governor Is Supporting Pro-Life Candidates
https://t.co/rJIcfIlb18— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 5, 2023
The HuffPost’s Alanna Vagianos seems flabbergasted that Governor Youngkin would support protecting life at 15 weeks, a position he has consistently held. Apparently, according to Vagianos, being “a moderate candidate” means abandoning pro-life values. But it’s no surprise that Youngkin is funding these candidates; he has been actively involved in the political scene with his Spirit of Virginia PAC and his push for early voting through the Secure Your Vote Virginia initiative.
NEW: Glenn Youngkin — who has for years presented himself as a moderate candidate — is quietly funding anti-choice extremists down ballot through his PAC ahead of Virginia's critical November elections. https://t.co/dZR3zHlR1T
— Alanna Vagianos (@AlannaVagianos) September 1, 2023
The governor hopes to have legislation introduced when the General Assembly returns in January.https://t.co/cY1ZbimIcL
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) June 24, 2022
Democrats Are 'Desperate,' Running Scared in Response to Youngkin's Early Voting Program
https://t.co/bNLgQpsQ9N— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 21, 2023
In her report, Vagianos begrudgingly mentions common-sense pro-life legislation that has nothing to do with gestational bans. She highlights the support Governor Youngkin’s PAC has given to candidates like incumbent Del. Emily Brewer, who is a vocal advocate for pro-life policies and believes life begins at conception. Tara Durant, another incumbent, shares the same pro-life stance and has made a commitment to pass anti-abortion legislation. Spirit of Virginia has also donated to Karen Greenhalgh and Kim Taylor, who are running for re-election this year.
Governor Youngkin’s support for protecting life at 15 weeks is about finding “consensus,” and recent polling shows that a majority of Americans, including Virginians, agree with him. At this stage of development, the unborn child can feel pain, and the abortion procedure becomes even riskier for the mother. Youngkin expressed his support for such legislation after the landmark Roe v. Wade decision was overturned in June last year. He tasked the General Assembly with finding common ground on the abortion issue.
Zack Roday, from Spirit of Virginia, explained that Governor Youngkin is seeking to bring Virginians together and protect life at 15 weeks, with exceptions for cases involving rape, incest, and the life of the mother. This approach is reasonable compared to the far-left extremists who support abortion up until the moment of birth.
It’s worth noting that state Democrats have consistently blocked efforts to implement a 15-week abortion limit and even legislation that would ensure medical care for babies born alive after failed abortions. Former Governor Ralph Northam notoriously spoke about denying medical care to such infants. State Democrats even pushed for a constitutional amendment to legalize abortion at any stage of pregnancy.
Vagianos conveniently left out any mention of these extreme positions in her piece, instead choosing to focus on loaded language to push the pro-abortion agenda. She points out that just over 95% of abortions in Virginia occur before the 15-week mark, but tries to play sympathy card by claiming that marginalized individuals, such as those under 18, low-income, or living in rural areas, may seek abortions after 15 weeks due to barriers to care. She also mentions genetic testing for fatal fetal abnormalities occurring at 18 or 20 weeks, implying that a 15-week abortion ban would force people with wanted pregnancies to seek care outside of Virginia.
While the majority of abortions do happen before 15 weeks, let’s not ignore the fact that 780 abortions still took place past that point, based on CDC estimates for 2019. Women may seek late-term abortions for various reasons, such as not realizing they were pregnant or struggling with the decision. It’s crucial to consider the sanctity of life and protect the most vulnerable among us.
The first day of early, in-person voting is just around the corner on September 22, 2023. The Secure Your Vote Virginia initiative, spearheaded by Governor Youngkin, builds on the success of his 2021 campaign’s early voting efforts. It’s a fantastic way to ensure that all Virginians have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote and participate in the future direction of the state. So mark your calendars, folks, because this election is going to be a nail-biter!
