President Joe Biden has thrown his weight behind the state’s Democrats, just days before Virginia’s elections, emphasizing the high stakes involved, particularly concerning abortion restrictions. Biden, through a fundraising email sent via the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), highlighted the threat posed by Governor Glenn Youngkin and Republicans who are pushing for more stringent abortion limitations.
“Folks, in Virginia, the stakes have never been higher,” stated President Biden in the email, pointing out the Republicans’ intent to roll back the country’s progress on issues like reproductive choice.
The email, exclusively obtained by ABC News, underscores the active involvement of national-level Democrats in Virginia’s upcoming elections, a state that stands as the only one in the South to have resisted tightening abortion restrictions following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last year.
The fear among Democrats is that if Republicans gain full control of the Legislature, Youngkin will attempt to enforce a ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, albeit with exceptions. A previous endeavor to pass such a measure was thwarted by the Democratic-controlled Senate.
DLCC President Heather Williams emphasized the significance of President Biden’s involvement, stating, “[His] fundraising for the DLCC shows Democrats are united as we head down the home stretch and get out the vote.”
However, Dave Rexrode, Youngkin’s political adviser and chairman of his PAC, Spirit of Virginia, dismissed Biden’s influence, framing the election as a battle between Biden and Youngkin. He confidently challenged the Democrats to analyze their lead surrogate’s poll numbers, suggesting that Youngkin’s campaign remained unfazed by Biden’s participation.
Biden’s support for Virginia Democrats comes on the heels of another prominent Democratic figure’s involvement. Former President Barack Obama also engaged in the electoral battle, recording robocalls through the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, urging Virginia voters to exercise their democratic rights.
The Democratic National Committee, under Biden’s direction, poured a substantial $1.2 million into the campaign back in September to counter Governor Youngkin’s fundraising efforts. Despite the financial support, experts suggest that Democrats are fighting an uphill battle in Virginia. Chapman Rackaway, a professor and chair of political science at Radford University, remarked, “Democrats are playing defense in Virginia,” emphasizing the party’s determination to thwart Republican majorities in both chambers.
Youngkin, too, has proven to be a formidable force, amassing historic sums of money. His political action committee, Spirit of Virginia, reported contributions exceeding $22 million since March, earmarked to support Republican candidates.
In financial terms, Democrats hold an edge, collectively raising $46 million over a span of four weeks in October, as per finance disclosures. Their primary goal is to regain control of the House of Delegates and maintain their slim majority in the state Senate. Conversely, Republicans are striving to uphold their current narrow majority in the House while aiming to flip the Senate, thus achieving complete control of the General Assembly. The outcome of these elections stands to significantly impact the ongoing debate surrounding abortion rights in Virginia.
