Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia Endorses Lashrecse Aird for Virginia State Senate

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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia Endorses Lashrecse Aird for Virginia State Senate

RICHMOND, VA – Today Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia (PPAV) announced its endorsement of Lashrecse Aird for Virginia 13th Senate District. As a former member of the House of Delegates, Aird earned a reputation as a courageous and indefatigable champion for justice, including on race and the environment. PPAV is certain that Lashrecse Aird is well-equipped to protect reproductive and maternal health care by any means necessary at this critical time in Virginia when these rights are under attack.

Throughout her tenure in the House, Aird was a driving force in securing the state’s first certification and reimbursement policy for doulas to fight maternal and infant mortality. Earlier this year, Aird shared her passion for reproductive rights and her support for codifying Roe v. Wade, proving that she is a champion for reproductive and maternal health care.

In contrast, Senator Joe Morrissey’s voting record and public statements demonstrate his career-long mission to undermine abortion rights. He voted against the Reproductive Health Protection Act, which Aird championed, and he led efforts to enact an abortion ban in the 2022 legislative session. Joe Morrissey is a danger to reproductive health care in Virginia. It is no secret that Republican legislators need his support to enact their extreme abortion agenda. With Governor Youngkin pursuing an abortion ban, we cannot afford to have him in this seat as the swing vote.

Jamie Lockhart, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia:

“Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia is proud to endorse Lashrecse Aird to represent the people of Virginia’s 13th Senate District. Our rights are at risk and in Lashrecse we have a proven champion who will fight for our reproductive rights.

As a delegate, Lashrecse Aird supported the Reproductive Health Protection Act to repeal medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion and she stood up for birth control access. She focused on addressing the maternal mortality crisis in Virginia, which puts Black women at three times greater risk of dying while in childbirth than their white counterparts—when other policymakers had no idea what it was or why it mattered.

With an almost evenly divided State Senate and Governor Youngkin jockeying for the national support of anti-abortion extremists, Virginians need their elected officials to fight like hell to protect safe, legal abortion. They don’t need someone like Senator Morrissey who could help Governor Youngkin enact his dangerous anti-abortion agenda. Just this past session, he joined Senator Amanda Chase in co-patroning an abortion ban. We must elect reproductive health champion Delegate Lashrecse Aird in the 13th Senate District if we want to protect our freedoms.”

Lashrecse Aird, Candidate for Senate District 13:

“I am grateful to partner with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia at this inflection point for abortion in Virginia. We share a mutual goal of ensuring that all people have access to their health care needs based on science, trust, and their health care provider’s guidance. For too long we have been at the mercy of politicians who denied us our health care needs, safety and, above all else, privacy. PPAV’s support is a clear message to the 13th Senate District and beyond that we will not allow Joe Morrissey, Glenn Youngkin, and Republicans in the General Assembly take us back to the Dark Ages—and instead we welcome a brighter future where people have full access to health care and the freedom and support we need to make our own health care decisions without government interference.”

Dr. Natalie Crawford, President, Doctors for Fertility:

“Doctors for Fertility was founded on the principle that every person who wants a family has access to fertility and reproductive care according to their healthcare needs. Today we are proud to endorse Lashrecse Aird for Virginia Senate District 13 because she has led by example to protect reproductive rights for all people. At a time of increasing attacks on reproductive healthcare, we need to elect leaders like Lashrecse to ensure these critical healthcare decisions remain between a person and their physician without government intrusion.”

Audra Grassia, board member, Virginia’s List:

“Virginia’s List, a PAC founded to elect more pro-choice, Democratic women to office, is thrilled to throw our support behind Lashrecse Aird in her bid to represent the people of District 13 in the Virginia Senate! We can’t think of a more qualified, capable, and dynamic leader than Lashrecse to move this new district forward. From Henrico to Surry, Lashrecse has listened to her community and knows what matters most – access to quality education for our kids, access to quality jobs, and access to quality health care for all Virginians.”

Kenda Sutton-el, maternal health advocate, activist, doula and doula trainer:

“Access to quality health care, including safe abortions, is a human right. All people are worthy of quality health care. All people deserve for their care providers to listen to them, to sympathize with them, to support the decisions they are making for their own bodies, for their own lives.

That is why I am standing in support of Lashrecse Aird for State Senate in District 13. She has fought for reproductive justice in the past, and we trust and believe that she will continue to do so as a State Senator. There is no question that abortion bans could be on the horizon for Virigina, but I support Lashrecse Aird because I support advancing maternal and reproductive health care, not regressing.”

Lisa Sales, President, Virginia National Organization for Women, Chair NOW PAC:

“Lashrecse not only subscribes to each of Virginia NOW’s core values, she demonstrates them through her work and commitment to the everyday lives of residents in the Commonwealth. She walks the walk with listening ears. As a dear friend reminds, God gave us two ears and only one mouth for a reason! We have witnessed Lashrecse’s servant heart, her leadership, and absolute dedication in the House of Delegates. Some might recall her race back in 2015 when she became the youngest woman elected to the Chamber. It is time to return her to the statehouse with a promotion to the Virginia Senate so she can continue to champion those that most need her advocacy.”

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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia (PPAV) is a statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to preserve and broaden access to reproductive health care through legislation, public education, electoral activity and litigation in the Commonwealth of Virginia. PPAV works to ensure that individuals and families have the freedom, information, and ability to make their own informed reproductive choices.