Ralph Northam on Abortion

End laws restricting woman's right to direct her health care

You don't have to be a doctor to know that's bad medicine. No more will legislators in Richmond--most of whom are men--be telling women what they should and should not be doing with their bodies.

FactCheck: No, would not execute babies after birth

Northam described the result of a failed late-term abortion when the baby has survived. "If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen, the infant would be delivered," the governor said. "The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians & mother."

Northam said that if a baby is born alive despite the efforts of the doctor to kill the baby in an abortion, the infant would "be resuscitated" only "if that's what the mother and the family desired." In other words, a baby who survives an attempted abortion should be considered dead, so that caring for the baby would be considered "resuscitation."

Repeal sonogram requirement to get an abortion

Legislative Outcome:: Introduced Jan 14; passed Senate 20-20 on Feb. 11, with tie-breaker vote by Lt. Gov. Northam; died in House Committee.

Led fight against transvaginal ultrasound requirement

"As Lieutenant Governor, I am proud to support progress for all Virginians. During the past two legislative sessions, I cast tie-breaking votes to ban employment discrimination based on sexual orientation in state government, to repeal the infamous and medically unnecessary ultrasound mandate, and to raise the minimum wage for working Virginians."

Protect women's reproductive rights

Keep abortion funding for women carrying fetal abnormalities

"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.

Opposes restrictive TRAP laws & dangerous personhood bill

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.

Stop the Republican war on women

Northam responded, "I am embarrassed for the Commonwealth of Virginia that not one Republican could break ranks to join Democrats in repealing the mandatory ultrasound requirement, which garnered such negative national attention one year ago. 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."