When I moved to Virginia over four years ago to attend Liberty University, I had an elementary understanding of Virginia politics. I had heard that Virginia was a crucial state to win during elections, but I was still naïve about the impact that any election in Virginia, much less an election about pro-life protections, had on the rest of the country. Now, four years later, I have the privilege of working at Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America in Arlington, Virginia. Our fight to protect the unborn nationally at a minimum of 15-weeks, the marker for when a baby can feel pain, has been brought to our doorstep. The upcoming Virginia legislative elections in November have placed a spotlight on the debate on abortion policy.
Before even stepping foot on Liberty’s campus, I knew that I was pro-life. I knew that unborn babies, no matter how far along they were, deserved the same protections and freedoms that I did as a young adult. But without an understanding of Virginia politics, the importance of my pro-life position living in Virginia was not visible to me.
Virginia’s prominent national position during election season, especially on the abortion issue, cannot be understated. In a recent meeting during a session at the Virginia General Assembly, Virginia Republicans, with guidance from Gov. Glenn Youngkin, proposed a bill that would codify 15-week protections for unborn babies in the womb. This move created waves, with many of the key legislative races currently underway in Virginia dedicating a large part of their November-focused campaigns to the issue of abortion.
The decisions made by Virginia voters in November will have major impacts on similar elections happening across the country, this year and next. At the same time as Virginia’s election, a vote in Ohio will be placed on Issue 1, a radical pro-abortion legislation that would legalize abortion-on-demand through the time of birth. If that wasn’t extreme enough, it also takes away parental rights in the decision-making process, giving minor girls the right to choose an abortion if they wish.
These voting outcomes will have major ramifications in the presidential and congressional elections in 2024. If Republicans can secure a win in Virginia, establishing that unborn babies deserve to be protected at 15-weeks minimum, that would send a message to states such as New York, Maryland, Arizona, Florida, South Dakota, and several others all considering ballot measures that would codify extreme abortion in their respective states.
Virginia is especially important because of its location within the country and its proximity to our nation’s capital. Being both a southern and a toss-up state places Virginia in a unique position. General elections are often won by a coin toss, with either party securing victory depending on messaging and campaign aggressiveness.
For example, during the 2020 presidential elections, Virginia voted to elect President Biden. One year later however, Glenn Youngkin, an outspoken Republican and staunch conservative, won the governor’s race after an intense campaign that highlighted the importance of parental rights and a constitutionally run government.
If Virginia follows a 2021 path and adopts Gov. Youngkin’s protections, the way that other states respond to their respective ballot measures can be affected.
Gov. Youngkin’s 15-week protection proposal has the power to change the national discussion on abortion. For years, Republicans in Virginia and across the country believed that a 15-week law was impossible to achieve. Now, Virginia, one of the most watched voting states in the nation, would be following in the footsteps of other states like, , and Indiana, which protect babies who can feel pain.
The November vote on abortion is going to radically change the outlook for pro-life policies going forward. It is so crucial that everyone registered to vote in Virginia show up to the ballot box on November 7 Pro-life policies are winning policies, and voters across Virginia this November have a chance to further prove that fact.
Sharon Higel is a Fellow at SBA Pro-Life America.