Virginia Democrats pushing abortion, gay marriage, voting rights measures

Virginia Democrats have pushed through bills on abortion, gay marriage and voting rights that will be centerpiece issues in the 2025 state elections.

Democrats got bare majorities in the Virginia General Assembly to put proposed constitutional amendments on reproductive rights, marriage equality, and automatic voting rights restoration in front of voters.

The process for amending the Virginia Constitution requires the proposed amendments to be passed in consecutive years with an election in between, so, you can bet that the ballot measures will be a hot topic as Democrats and Republicans fight for majorities in the General Assembly in November.

Also bet that the proposed amendments will be a hot-button issue in this year’s governor’s race between the presumptive Democratic Party nominee, Abigail Spanberger, and the presumptive Republican Party nominee, Winsome Earle-Sears.

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ICYMI

• Republican radio guy doesn’t like the party’s presumptive Black nominee for governor
• Earle-Sears cast vote to block right to contraception bill, which later passes State Senate
• VCU poll: Abigail Spanberger has big early lead on Winsome Earle-Sears in 2025 governor race

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We got a statement from Spanberger on the proposed amendments:

“Yesterday, the General Assembly completed the first step in pursuing three important constitutional amendments — protecting reproductive healthcare choices, restoring the voting rights of citizens who have completed their sentences, and removing Virginia’s outdated ban on marriage equality.

“Every woman in Virginia deserves the freedom to make her own reproductive healthcare choices with her doctors and family, not as mandated by politicians in Richmond. Every Virginian who has served their time deserves the freedom to take hold of their second chance and regain their voice in our democratic process — their vote. All Virginians deserve the freedom to marry and for their families to be welcomed in our Commonwealth without the shadow of an outdated and unconstitutional ban on marriage equality lingering in Virginia’s Constitution.”

“Virginians deserve leaders who will defend their privacy, dignity, and freedoms — and Democrats in the Senate and House of Delegates have proven to be those leaders. I’m grateful for the sponsors who moved these amendments through the General Assembly. I’m grateful for every legislator who cast their vote to affirm Virginians’ personal freedoms. And I’m grateful to the advocates and community members who’ve contributed to this clear progress. You all are leading our Commonwealth into a stronger future.”