Despite Republicans’ insistence that they won’t be eliminating abortion rights in Virginia, Del. Bob Thomas (R-Stafford), admitted that his party’s real goal is to hold onto their majority in the General Assembly, win the Governor’s mansion in 2021 and then do just do that.

Thomas, who will face off against Democrat Joshua Cole in November, was asked by conservative radio host John Fredericks if he thought near-total abortion bans, like the one just enacted in Georgia, goes too far.

“I don’t believe it’s too extreme,” Thomas said. “I think the problem we have here in Virginia is we have a Democrat [sic] governor. We’ve had one for a decade now. And if we’re ever to take the tide back and and start putting some of those laws in Virginia, we have to find candidates who can win in blue areas of the state.”

“I would love to see Virginia move that way but we have to have a governor who’s willing to sign these things. So we have to make some real progress in the next two years.”

Cole, who came close to beating Thomas in the last election and outperformed Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, has condemned Thomas’ comments and said he will protect women’s rights.

Thomas’ statement comes at a time when Georgia enacted legislation that almost completely bans abortion and Alabama passed a bill that bans the procedure in every case (including rape and incest) except when the mother’s life is at stake.

Could Virginia be next?

We might find out this November.

Republicans hold razor-thin two seat majorities in both the House of Delegates and the state Senate. All 140 seats of the General Assembly are on the ballot this year, and despite the fact that 72% of Virginians believe abortion should be legal, abortion access may be on the ballot as well.