Aaron Rouse Defeats Anti-Abortion Opponent and Cements Pro-Abortion Rights Majority in Virginia State Senate

PPAV-endorsed Aaron Rouse becomes new State Senator for SD-07, will champion reproductive freedom in upcoming legislative session

Virginia Beach, VA - Today, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia-endorsed candidate Aaron Rouse prevailed in Virginia's 7th Senate District over anti-abortion opponent Kevin Adams. In his first legislative session as Senator, Rouse will champion reproductive rights — including access to abortion, affordable birth control, and the full spectrum of  health care — and fight back against every attempt to roll back Virginians’ rights.  

Statement from Jamie Lockhart, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia:

“We are thrilled to congratulate Sen.-elect Aaron Rouse who valiantly and unapologetically made this special election about protecting abortion rights. The voters of SD-07 responded loudly and clearly that they want to see abortion protected, not banned — as do the majority of Virginians all throughout the commonwealth. When our rights are on the line, voters show up in support of reproductive freedom. This is a critical victory for health care access and the future of abortion rights in our commonwealth, and we look forward to working with Sen.-elect Rouse and all of our allies in the General Assembly who will boldly champion Virginians’ freedom this legislative session.”

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia endorsed Rouse in December 2022, and Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC worked with supporters across the commonwealth to ensure voters saw the stark contrast between Rouse and Adams and knew exactly what was at stake for abortion access in this special election. Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC reached thousands of voters through phone banking, door-to-door canvassing, a robust direct mail program targeting approximately 20,000 households, and digital ads that reached nearly 1.5 million Virginians in the critical final week of the election.

About Aaron Rouse:

As an at-large member of the Virginia Beach City Council, Rouse earned a reputation as a strong presence who fights for issues that impact the people of Virginia Beach, including by defending their reproductive rights.  When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade and allowed states to ban abortion, Rouse boldly proposed including language to protect abortion rights in Virginia Beach’s General Assembly legislative priorities. We can trust Aaron Rouse to fight like hell to protect safe and legal abortion in the Virginia State Senate.

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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia (PPAV) is a statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to preserve and broaden access to reproductive health care through legislation, public education, electoral activity and litigation in the Commonwealth of Virginia. PPAV works to ensure that individuals and families have the freedom, information, and ability to make their own informed reproductive choices.