FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2019
Contact: Julien Martinez, [email protected], 347-229-2517
General Assembly flips to support reproductive freedom, in rejection of anti-choice false claims and misinformation
NEW YORK – Andrea Miller, President of the National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH) Action Fund, released the following statement tonight congratulating Virginia statehouse candidates and Virginia voters for victories that reflect widespread support for reproductive freedom throughout the commonwealth. Pending final results, Democrats have so far won 21 seats in the Senate and 53 seats in the House of Delegates, proving that the vast majority of Virginians believe that every woman should have the freedom and ability to control her body, life, and future.
“All eyes were on Virginia tonight, as this election is a bellwether for the elections to come – proving ahead of 2020 that candidates can run, and win, on their support for protecting and advancing abortion access. The threats to women’s reproductive freedom from the White House and Supreme Court are real, and voters are motivated to ensure that abortion remains safe, legal, and accessible,” said Andrea Miller, president of the NIRH Action Fund.
The NIRH Action Fund partnered with NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia to run a multi-layered campaign in key districts to educate and turn out voters. This political program supported seven candidates for General Assembly who ran on bold platforms of standing up for reproductive freedom and rejecting false claims and misinformation. The following supported candidates were victorious, with one race currently too close to call: Delegate Hala Ayala (HD51), Delegate Elizabeth Guzman (HD31), Delegate Kathy Tran (HD42), and Senate Candidate Ghazala Hashmi (SD10).
“We congratulate the victorious General Assembly candidates and all Virginians tonight, and we look forward to working in 2020 to pass meaningful, lasting reproductive freedom legislation that will improve the health and well-being of Virginians,” Miller continued.
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The NIRH Action Fund conducts nonpartisan advocacy and electoral engagement to advance reproductive freedom in states and cities across the country.