LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — The future of abortion access in Virginia could be on the line in next week’s election, with resources pouring into the race for the 31st Senate District. In the area covering Loudoun and part of Fauquier County, a hotly contested race between former prosecutor Russet Perry, a Democrat, and GOP political newcomer Juan Pablo Segura.
Where do they both stand on abortion? That depends on your definition of the word "ban."
THE CURRENT LAW:
Abortion is currently legal in Virginia until about 26 weeks, with some guidelines and third-trimester restrictions, and it’s widely considered the only state in the south without an abortion ban after the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year.
HE SAYS:
Segura’s campaign insists he does not support a “ban” on abortions.
A spokesperson tells us the entrepreneur-turned-politician is aligned with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proposal: a prohibition of abortions after 15 weeks, with exceptions in the case of rape and incest, and to save the life of the mother, adding it “would be up to the doctor/medical team and mother to determine when the mother’s life is at risk.”
The spokesperson concludes: "That's not a ban."
SHE SAYS:
An email from Russet Perry’s camp says in part: “Juan Pablo Segura is advocating to make abortion procedures that would be legal today illegal and roll back the current law in Virginia on abortion that echoes the protections of Roe v. Wade - that’s an abortion ban.”
HE SAYS:
Segura’s spokesperson says Perry’s claims that he’d jail medical providers who provide abortions are “false,” pointing to recent Segura ads featuring his wife sharing the story of their emergency pregnancy termination as evidence that he defers to women and their doctors to make these decisions.
SHE SAYS:
Perry says Segura’s plan sets medical providers up for legal troubles if they perform abortions that are currently allowed. “The bill Republicans proposed, that Youngkin supports, and that my opponent has vowed to vote for, makes providing currently lawful abortions a felony,” she said in an email. The penalty for providing illegal abortions in Virginia is up to 10 years incarceration.
HE SAYS:
“I am deeply aware of the issues impacting the health and safety of women and babies,” reads Segura’s platform on the issue. “My opponent supports the extreme proposal of groups that would amend the Virginia constitution to allow late term abortions.”
SHE SAYS:
On Perry’s campaign website, “Safeguarding Women’s Rights” is the first issue listed: her platform, in part: “Russet will fight to ensure that Virginia does not join that growing number of states that have adopted all out bans on abortion.”
“I have been clear from the beginning of this campaign that I support our current framework in Virginia as it stands, which reflects the Roe v. Wade framework that was the law of the land for almost 50 years. If elected, my top priority will be to protect the current law on abortion in Virginia and amend the Virginia Constitution to include the protections of Roe v. Wade and the right to choose.”
Instead, she and other Virginia Democrats support protecting the current Virginia law and adding an amendment to the state Constitution that enshrines abortion access, but does not extend the availability of abortions beyond the current limit of 26 weeks and 6 days.