Southern abortion bans push patients North to Virginia

By Amie Knowles

July 2, 2025

As abortion bans tighten across the South, Virginia’s become a lifeline.

New data shows the Commonwealth saw the biggest jump in abortions nationwide last year—up by over 5,500. Nearly 1 in 4 patients came from out of state, with many traveling from Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina just to get care.

While abortion is still legal here, it’s not protected in the state constitution—and advocates say the threats are growing.

Just this year, Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed protections for contraception. If that’s any clue, the fight for reproductive rights in Virginia is far from over.

Video created: 2025-06-27T23:31:43.078Z

Amie Knowles

Amie Knowles is Dogwood's newsletter editor. She has been in journalism for several years, winning multiple awards from the Virginia Press Association for news and feature content. A lifelong Virginia resident, her work has appeared in the Martinsville Bulletin, Danville Register & Bee, and NWNC Magazine.

Have a story tip? Reach Amie at [email protected]. For local reporting in Virginia that connects the dots, from policy to people, sign up for Amie’s newsletter.

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