September 2, 2023

Americans are fed up with extremists, and reproductive rights for women are hugely popular. You know, because we are human beings and not breeding machines. The case of Gov. Glenn Youngkin is interesting. Election deniers lost elections. Youngkin tried to stay away from any talk of the 2020 election. So brave! He definitely is a closet-case anti-choice weirdo, though.

HuffPost reports:

Despite Gov. Glenn Youngkin's attempt to appear moderate by calling for a 15-week abortion ban, the Republican governor is quietly funding anti-choice extremist lawmakers, many of whom have said they believe life begins at conception.

Spirit of Virginia, Youngkin's political action committee previously known as Virginia Wins, donated nearly $100,000 to anti-choice down-ballot Republican candidates in the state so far this year, according to campaign finance records. The governor created the PAC in 2021 to support Republican candidates at every level of government. Youngkin, a former CEO of a global investment firm, was the sole contributor to the PAC when Spirit of Virginia first launched. He remains a major donor and was behind over $295,000 in donations in the 2022-23 fiscal year.

The $99,214 has gone to 10 Republican candidates running in closely watched races in the state Senate and House of Delegates, according to public records. All of Virginia's General Assembly is up for reelection in November, and the outcome of certain races could have far-reaching ramifications for abortion access in Virginia — and, by extension, the whole Southeast, as many neighboring states have passed much more restrictive bans. Democrats hold the state Senate by a slim margin, while Republicans control the House of Delegates by just a few seats.

Youngkin's PAC donated at least $3,500 to House of Delegates candidate Republican John Stirrup, who previously said that he would support a total abortion ban but later walked that back because, of course he did. He threw money at Del. Emily Brewer, who pledged to "100% support pro-life policy," who somehow believes that life begins at conception, and has supported forced ultrasounds and pre-abortion counseling.

Deep red Kansa rejected abortion bans, but Republicans aren't paying attention. And it's rather creepy that they don't think women can make deeply personal decisions alone. They will never ban abortion. They will only ban safe abortion.

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