Virginia governor race: Pro-lifers warn state could become ‘abortion capital of the south’

The state of Virginia might “see unprecedented growth as an abortion destination” depending on the outcome of its upcoming gubernatorial election on Nov. 4, pro-life groups warn.

One of the only two states in the nation holding a race for governor this year, Virginia’s election lead-up has been closely watched across the political spectrum. Republican Lt. Gov Winsome Earle-Sears is facing off against former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat.

While the race has centered around the economy, education and the cost of living, abortion has also emerged as a key issue – and the two candidates sparred over the topic during their one and only debate earlier this month. The winner of the race could shape the future of the state in the South that has been the least restrictive towards abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Spanberger, a vocal abortion supporter, said she supports the “Roe standard” and a proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine abortion access in the state. Earle-Sears said the “commonwealth needs to come together and figure out where it wants to be” on abortion and accused her opponent of having “the extremist view, which is abortion up until the very hour that the baby could be born, up until the very minute.” 

Abortion is currently legal in Virginia through the second trimester, with limited exceptions in the third trimester of pregnancy.  

Virginia Society for Human Life said Spanberger’s position and support of the proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine abortion into the state constitution would “allow unlimited abortions throughout pregnancy, prohibit any future protective regulations, and will threaten Virginia’s Parental Consent law.” 

The group also pointed out that when asked by Earle-Sears whether a baby born alive after a failed abortion should receive treatment, “Spanberger refused to answer the question and remained silent in response.” 

Virginia Society for Human Life “is grateful to pro-life Lt. Governor Earle-Sears for highlighting just how extreme Abigail Spanberger really is,” the group’s president, Olivia Gans Turner, said in a statement. “Under a Spanberger administration, Virginia would see unprecedented growth as an abortion destination and Virginia would become the abortion capital of the south.” 

Abortion supporters in the state, including Planned Parenthood, have praised Spanberger as an “abortion rights champion” who will protect the procedure and birth control access in the state. 

With the election less than two weeks away, polling shows Spanberger has a single-digit lead in the race. Spanberger is leading Earle-Sears 49% to 42%, a margin that has tightened over the past two months, according to new polling released from Virginia Commonwealth University this week.  

President Donald Trump recently weighed in on the race, telling The Lion and other reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that the Republican candidate is “excellent” – while stopping short of formally endorsing her – and calling Spanberger “a disaster.” 

“I watched her in the debate,” he said of Spanberger, “she couldn’t answer the most basic questions.”