Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, Planned Parenthood Action Fund Statement on Governor’s Election

RICHMOND, VA — Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia (PPAV) and Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF) released the following statements on yesterday’s election results.

Statement from Jamie Lockhart, executive director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia:

"We are grateful to Terry McAuliffe, Haya Ayala, Mark Herring, and all of the candidates who ran in support of reproductive rights in this election. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia is proud to stand with you, and we will continue to move our shared goals for Virginia forward.

“Years of polling — and last night’s exit polls — show that the majority of Virginians support safe, legal abortion and access to affordable reproductive health care. We will not let our rights go without a fight. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia will hold Governor-elect Youngkin and the rest of Virginia’s leaders accountable for the promises they made on the campaign trail. “We will work to make sure that Youngkin and his supporters in the House of Delegates cannot push our state back in time by reinstating harmful restrictions, banning abortion, and defunding essential health care services. Most importantly, we will continue standing with Virginians who want to make their own reproductive health decisions without interference from politicians.

“While disappointed with the statewide results and the loss of the pro-reproductive rights majority in the House of Delegates, we are proud of our work to protect many competitive House of Delegates seats: Delegate Wendy Gooditis (HD10), Delegate Dan Helmer (HD-40), Delegate-elect Briana Sewell (HD51), Delegate Rodney Willett (HD73). And we’re hopeful the House will return with Delegate Kelly Covirs-Fowler (HD-21) and Delegate Alex Askew (HD85), whose races are still too close to call.

“Planned Parenthood Virginia PAC supported these campaigns through a paid canvass operation in Virginia Beach, regular volunteer and staff canvassing in Loudoun, Prince William, Henrico and Virginia Beach, a robust mail program, and an aggressive digital advertising campaign. We were happy to work with Debra Gardner (HD27), a challenger we were proud to support, and we are excited to support her in her future endeavors. We would also like to thank our champions Delegate Lashrecse Aird (HD63) and Delegate Nancy Guy (HD83) for their support and steadfast commitment to sexual and reproductive health care. While their races are still too close to call, we are honored to have worked for their re-elections and hope to support them in the future.”

Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

"The results in Virginia are disappointing, but we are proud that Planned Parenthood supporters turned out across the commonwealth to rally for abortion rights champions. While not all of these candidates were successful in this election, they demonstrated the leadership that we need in these dark times for reproductive freedom. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is grateful to each of them for standing up for Virginians throughout this election.

“We are especially grateful to Terry McAuliffe, who has been a brick wall for reproductive health and rights throughout his career and fought a valiant campaign. We are grateful to Haya Ayala, a rising star who we know will continue fighting for Virginians. And we are grateful to Mark Herring, whose race remains uncalled and has challenged attacks on abortion access throughout his tenure as attorney general.

“Make no mistake: Our rights are under attack, from city councils and state legislatures to the nation’s highest court. This election further proves that our fight is far from over. Planned Parenthood Action Fund and our supporters will not back down, and we will keep fighting to ensure that reproductive freedom is protected in Virginia and beyond."

According to exit polls from last night, a strong majority of Virginians (59%) believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Seventy-five percent of those people voted for Terry McAuliffe.

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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.