As a Virginian, it saddens me to envision the future of our Commonwealth under Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger. While she claims to be a moderate, especially when compared to more extreme candidates like Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, her voting record and public comments tell a far different story.
Her history as an elected official is one favoring the same extremism on social issues, including abortion. However, despite electing her to the highest office within the Commonwealth, Virginians are not ready to adopt her views on abortion.
On the campaign trail, Spanberger went on record supporting the effort to enshrine abortion into the Commonwealth’s constitution. The House Joint Resolution known as “HJ1,” as passed by a first vote this past spring, will put “abortion without limits” on the ballot for Virginians. This “right” would impose no limits at any point in pregnancy or for any reason.
It is no surprise Spanberger has become a champion of this extreme position, given her previous record on abortion. During her tenure serving as Representative for the 7th Congressional District of Virginia, Spanberger co-sponsored two of the most extreme attempts to protect a so-called national “right” to abortion through the Women’s Health Protection and Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Acts.
On par with the stance of former Governor Ralph Northam to let babies die who survive failed abortions, Spanberger voted down the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, a measure that would not have impacted abortion access for women but simply ensured life-saving care was provided to born children.
Virginia is simply not a Commonwealth of abortion extremism, and Spanberger is shortly going to realize she and the newly-expanded Democrat majority are going to have a more difficult time than they anticipated getting a “free-for-all” abortion amendment adopted. Winning over Virginians, for better or worse, begins with nuance—a tact Spanberger falsely thinks she has mastered by winning the governorship.
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While I would be remiss to call Virginia a pro-life state by any measure, limits on abortion are still vastly popular. Exit polling from CNN following the election this past Tuesday shows only 28 percent of Virginians think abortion should be “legal in all cases.” This interestingly contrasts with the 57.2 percent of Virginians who voted for this stance by electing Spanberger to the office of Governor of Virginia.
Following lengthy discussions with fellow Virginians, I believe these results were not an embrace of abortion but rather frustration over affordability, the government shutdown, and a rejection of President Trump’s first year in office—an obstacle Virginians always have to face after any Republican takes the presidency due to our off-year elections.
As there is little chance for a “right” to abortion not being on the ballot in Virginia in the near future, leaders in the fight for life must begin educating the public immediately. Poor messaging has resulted in otherwise pro-life states adopting extreme abortion amendments not on par with public sentiment.
While it would seem a Virginia abortion amendment would only receive 28 percent of the popular vote, fear of abortion restrictions often drives truly moderate voters to vote in favor of abortion without limit. Immediately following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, we saw similar results in Ohio in the 2023 election. The abortion lobby consistently uses its vast financial profits on expansive messaging to confuse the public on what the language of these amendments actually contains: unlimited abortion.
Pro-life strategists must build bridges with the moderate and independent constituencies in Virginia to highlight the extremism HJ1 brings to the Commonwealth. If voters understand that the amendment Spanberger is championing will allow women to have an abortion until the moment of birth and for any reason, eugenic or not, I am confident voters will reject this radical policy in favor of a more moderate, nuanced stance.
Governor-elect Spanberger will hear the voices of Virginians as we rally to reject extremism. A “right” to abortion will not be so easily adopted in the Commonwealth of Virginia—a home I will continue to fight to protect.
John Mize is the CEO of Americans United for Life, the nation’s first and oldest pro-life legal nonprofit.
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