Axios: “Democrats are mobilizing for what they widely view as the next major referendum on abortion rights: this fall’s Virginia state legislature elections.
Why it matters: Virginia is the lone southern state that hasn’t banned or restricted abortion since the Supreme Court struck down federal protection of the procedure and provides another off-year test of its potency as a campaign issue following Ohio’s special election this month.
- The outcome will be critical for Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who had pushed for a 15-week ban in the state and is increasingly seen as a top alternative to former President Donald Trump by some establishment Republicans.
The big picture: Democrats hold a majority in the Virginia state Senate, while Republicans control the House of Delegates. Only a handful of seats in each chamber are deemed competitive by the Virginia Public Access Project.”