State of Virginia secondary Archives: on Abortion


Bob McDonnell: Pro-life; anti-partial-birth; pro-parental-notification

Bob McDonnell is pro-life. As Attorney General, Bob supported numerous bills to protect the unborn and defended the Commonwealth's ban on late-term partial birth abortion.

As a legislator, Bob McDonnell helped lead the effort to ban late-term partial birth abortion (House Bills 2513 & 1541, 2003), fought to successfully enact parental notification and informed consent (Chief Patron, House Bill 1110, 1992; HB 2570, 2001), and encourage adoption

Source: 2009 VA Gubernatorial campaign site, bobmcdonnell.com Jul 21, 2009

Bob McDonnell: Supported 35 restrictive bills, even with rape & incest

Deeds noted that during 15 years as a Virginia Beach delegate, McDonnell supported 35 bills to restrict abortion and opposes the practice even in cases of rape and incest. Deeds backs abortion rights.

McDonnell said he believes that people of goodwill can find agreement on the issue. But he accused Deeds of being "outside the mainstream" in opposing bills to ban late-term abortions and to require parental consent for minors seeking abortions.

Source: Washington Post coverage: 2009 VA gubernatorial debate Jul 25, 2009

Creigh Deeds: Backs abortion rights without parental consent

Deeds noted that during 15 years as a Virginia Beach delegate, McDonnell supported 35 bills to restrict abortion and opposes the practice even in cases of rape and incest. Deeds backs abortion rights.

McDonnell said he believes that people of goodwill can find agreement on the issue. But he accused Deeds of being "outside the mainstream" in opposing bills to ban late-term abortions and to require parental consent for minors seeking abortions.

Source: Washington Post coverage: 2009 VA gubernatorial debate Jul 25, 2009

Dave Brat: Human life is sacred

Uphold Human Life: Human life is sacred, as proclaimed by our founding documents, and I will always support laws that protect life. Our fundamental rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness precede the existence of government and come from God, the Author of Nature. These core constitutional rights have been usurped by the Judicial and Executive Branches and must be returned to the people and their representatives.
Source: 2014 VA -7 House campaign website, DaveBratForCongress.com Jun 15, 2014

Jim Gilmore: Informed consent and 24-hour waiting period

When it comes to the most difficult decision a woman must make -- whether or not to have an abortion -- I believe she should be fully informed about the medical implications of that decision and have an opportunity to reflect on that information. That's why I support legislation to require informed consent and establish a 24-hour waiting period for abortion.
Source: 2001 State of the State Address to VA General Assembly Jan 10, 2001

Jim Gilmore: As governor, I stood for the sanctity of life

Q: Do you support a constitutional amendment to limit abortion? When, if ever, should abortion be legal?

Gilmore: As governor of Virginia, I stood for the sanctity of life, pushing through legislation that created a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions, required parental notification for minors and banned partial birth abortion. As your U.S. senator, I will continue to work to preserve Virginia values including the protection of human life.

Mark Warner: I support Roe v Wade. But I think folks with differing views on the issue of abortion can all agree that we ought to do everything we can to reduce unintended pregnancies. I signed a bill when I was governor to require parental notification with a judicial bypass. As the father of three daughters, I am very comfortable with this law.

Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Virginian-Pilot Oct 17, 2008

Lee Carter: An unapologetic supporter of a woman's right to choose

Lee knows that reproductive rights are human rights. He is an unapologetic supporter of a woman's right to choose and will never support legislation that limits women's access to healthcare. He will also continue the fight for pay equity, workplace rights, and increased protection from domestic violence and sexual assault.
Source: 2021 VA Governor campaign website CarterForVirginia.com Aug 5, 2021

Mark Warner: Support Roe v. Wade, but respect differing views

Q: Do you support a constitutional amendment to limit abortion? When, if ever, should abortion be legal?

Warner: I support Roe v Wade. But I think folks with differing views on the issue of abortion can all agree that we ought to do everything we can to reduce unintended pregnancies. I signed a bill when I was governor to require parental notification with a judicial bypass. As the father of three daughters, I am very comfortable with this law.

Jim Gilmore: As governor of Virginia, I stood for the sanctity of life, pushing through legislation that created a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking abortions, required parental notification for minors and banned partial birth abortion. As your U.S. senator, I will continue to work to preserve Virginia values including the protection of human life.

Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Virginian-Pilot Oct 17, 2008

Ralph Northam: Keep abortion funding for women carrying fetal abnormalities

Dr. Ralph Northam led an effort to stop the Republican war on women that has sought to limit access to legal and safe health care and made Virginia a national punch line. Northam sponsored SB 1080 and SB 1082, which would have repealed the ill-advised and offensive mandatory ultrasound requirement passed last year, but Republicans defeated both measures on party-line votes in a Senate committee. Northam issued the following statement in response:

"I am embarrassed that not one Republican joined Democrats in repealing the mandatory ultrasound requirement. Clearly, Republicans not only do not trust women to make their own medical decisions, but want to interfere in the sacred doctor-patient relationship. This kind of invasive government regulation has no place in Virginia law."

At the same committee meeting, Northam also led the charge to defeat SB 826, a bill that would have eliminated abortion funding for low-income women if their fetuses had gross abnormalities.

Source: 2016-17 VA gubernatorial campaign website NorthamForLG.com Nov 1, 2013

Ralph Northam: Opposes restrictive TRAP laws & dangerous personhood bill

Like so many Virginians, I have been troubled by the repeated attempts to restrict women's reproductive rights. One of the reasons I got into the race for Lt. Governor is to put an end to this dangerous agenda that undermines women's health. Efforts to put the government squarely in between a woman and her doctor need to stop.

From the restrictive TRAP laws to the dangerous personhood bill, this extreme agenda threatens basic birth control and primary services that Virginia women depend on. I will continue to do everything I can to keep the government out of our private lives and out of personal health care decisions. On this issue the choice in this election could not be clearer: I will defend women's access to health care.

Source: 2016-17 VA gubernatorial campaign website NorthamForLG.com Nov 1, 2013

Tom Garrett: Protect the unborn; life begins at conception

Life is sacred and begins at conception. All individuals have the right to life, and Tom is committed to doing everything he can to protect it. Tom has worked hard to protect the unborn through legislation like SB 826, a bill he patroned to repeal taxpayer funding for non-federally funded abortions.? His efforts to protect innocent unborn like have won him kudos from various pro-life organizations. The Family Foundation of Virginia, one of the Commonwealth's leading pro-life organizations, said of Tom: ".The Family Foundation would like to extend its utmost gratitude to Senator Tom Garrett for his bravery and impeccable defense of life through his willingness to patron and actively advocate on behalf of SB 826."
Source: 2016 VA House campaign website TomGarrettForCongress.com Nov 8, 2016

  • The above quotations are from Commonwealth of Virginia Politicians: secondary Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2016 Presidential contenders on Abortion:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI)
Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023