Virginia Republican Thomas Garrett speaking against adding abortion rights to the state constitution after he acknowledged most Virginians want to do so, Feb. 13, 2025. (House of Delegates screenshot)
Nearly two-thirds of Virginians support adding the right to an abortion to the state constitution, according to a recent poll by Virginia Commonwealth University.
In a rare moment of candor, a Virginia Republican acknowledged the unpopularity of opposing abortion rights before voting against adding them to the Virginia constitution.
Del. Thomas Garrett on Thursday said on the floor of the House of Delegates that despite most Virginians supporting adding abortion rights to the state constitution, he still opposed doing so.
“I understand that, and I accept that,” Garrett said. “And I thought, ‘Well, here we go again – abandoning our conscience and that which we say we value to follow polls.’ Well, I won’t.”
Garrett was referencing a radio report that a Virginia Commonwealth University poll found 62% of Virginians support including the right to an abortion in the state constitution.
Garrett then joined 45 other Republican delegates in voting against the resolution being advanced by state Democrats to add abortion and reproductive rights to the state constitution. Amending Virginia’s constitution is a multi-year process that culminates in a ballot referendum by voters. Virginia Democrats want to bolster state reproductive rights in the wake of Roe being overturned.
The vote passed in a 51-46 vote on party lines. Garrett’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Democrats criticized Garrett for preferring to “ignore the will of the people.”
“Del. Garrett just said the quiet part out loud: Virginia Republicans don’t care what you think,” the Virginia House Democratic Caucus posted on X.
Del. Garrett just said the quiet part out loud: Virginia Republicans don’t care what you think. 62% of Virginians support reproductive rights—but they’d rather ignore the will of the people. pic.twitter.com/pLrjhwKQIR
— VA House Democrats (@VAHouseDems) February 13, 2025
Garrett went on to suggest the polling “over-simplified the question” before repeating his own over-simplifications of abortion care.
For example, Garrett claimed that the resolution would allow for “abortion up to the moment of labor and delivery” and “abortion during the seventh, eight, or ninth month of human life.” But according to a summary of the resolution, the amendment would allow Virginia, “to regulate the provision of abortion care in the third trimester when it is medically indicated to protect the life or health of the pregnant individual or when the fetus is not viable.”
House Democrats spoke forcefully in support of the amendment resolution before it passed.
“Doctors should not be put in the impossible position of watching their patients die unable to provide critical care until it’s too late,” Del. Marcia “Cia” Price said on the House floor. “But that’s what abortion bans do, Mr. Speaker, and that’s what the other side ultimately wants.”
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