VIRGINIA & OHIO 2023 ELECTIONS
Abortion is on the Ballot Nov. 7th, 2023
People who care about reproductive rights, including Project 50’s friends and supporters, know that November 7, 2023 is a critical day for re-establishing the right to abortion healthcare in every state.
On that day, Ohioans will vote on a constitutional amendment that would protect the full range of reproductive options in the state, including abortion. We can’t overestimate what that would mean to the 20,000 Ohioans who have been accessing abortion healthcare each year, not to mention people needing this healthcare in surrounding states.
But there is another election on November 7, 2023 that is a must-win for reproductive rights: the election for the Virginia legislature.
Virginia is one of the last southern states where abortion healthcare is legal and accessible - it is largely or entirely illegal in 11 of 15 southern states.
The legality of abortion in Virginia as of now is protected by the State Senate which has a slim 22-19 pro-choice majority. The Governor's office and the Virginia House of Delegates are controlled by abortion healthcare opponents.
The November 7, 2023 election presents a dramatic fork in the road for the future legality of abortion healthcare in Virginia.
If the reproductive rights-supporting majority in the State Senate does not hold, newly united anti-choice leadership will be ready to ban abortion healthcare as has happened in too many other southern states.
On the other hand, if the pro-choice majority in the State Senate is maintained and the House of Delegates also flips to a pro-choice majority, the legislature can begin the process of amending the state constitution to protect abortion rights, which, in Virginia, does not require the governor’s approval.
Fortunately, Virginia is home to Repro Rising, an impactful political organization laser-focused on reproductive healthcare and rights.
Project 50 recently met with Tarina Keene, Repro Rising’s Executive Director, to learn more about this election and ways that the Project 50 community can help ensure all Virginians continue to have access to the full range of reproductive healthcare, including abortion.
Repro Rising’s knowledge of their state’s political landscape is impressive, with the kind of insight that can only come from an in-state organization.
Executive Director Keene highlighted a shortlist of Virginia State Senate and House of Delegates races which hold the key to which way Virginia goes.
Virginia Senate District 16 - elect Schuyler VanValkenburg (currently in the VA House)
Virginia Senate District 24 - re-elect Senator Monty Mason
Virginia Senate District 31 - elect Russet Perry (first-time candidate)
Virginia House District 21 - elect Josh Thomas (first-time candidate)
Virginia House District 22 - elect Travis Nembhard (first-time candidate)
Virginia House District 57 - elect Susanna Gibson (first-time candidate)
Virginia House District 58 - re-elect Rodney Willett
Because abortion healthcare remains legal in Virginia, about 15,000 state residents are able to get the healthcare they need each year.
Victory for these seven leaders will help ensure that the full range of reproductive healthcare will continue to be available.
Here are three ways you can help.
Consider donating directly to these candidates. Even $10 to a candidate matters if there are lots of us giving $10. (You can donate at any of the links above.)
Donate directly to Repro Rising. Every dollar they receive will help them reach another voter under the group’s focused 2023 election plan. Here’s their donation link.
Speak up on Instagram, Facebook, “X”, and other social media. You may not vote in Virginia, but you have friends, family and colleagues who almost certainly do.
We cannot let the focus on our reproductive rights fade. Every election matters. That’s never been more true on November 7, 2023 in Virginia.
Thank you from all of us at Project 50.