ICYMI: Virginia Democrats Advance Three Constitutional Amendments Enshrining the Rights and Freedoms of Virginians Arrow

In response to Virginia Democrats passing three constitutional amendments to enshrine the rights and freedoms of their constituents, DNC Executive Director Sam Cornale released the following statement:

"This week, Virginia Democrats landed a huge victory against Donald Trump, Glenn Youngkin, and MAGA Republicans' extremism by advancing three constitutional amendments to restore voting rights, protect reproductive freedoms, and enshrine marriage equality. The DNC is proud to work alongside the Democratic Party of Virginia and Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly as we get ready to fight to maintain control of the House of Delegates and flip the Governor's Mansion in November so that Democrats can continue notching wins for the people of Virginia. We must continue to elect Democrats up and down the ballot to end MAGA Republicans' attacks on our freedoms once and for all."

Associated Press: Virginia Democrats pass constitutional amendments blasted by Republicans

[Olivia Diaz, 1/21/25]

• Virginia's Democratic-led Senate on Tuesday passed constitutional amendments on abortion and voting rights.

• The Senate passed the resolutions in two party-line votes. In a 24-15 bipartisan vote, senators also passed a resolution repealing a now-defunct ban on same-sex marriage backed by Sen. Adam Ebbin, the first openly gay lawmaker elected to the legislature. The Democratic-led Virginia House of Delegates passed similar legislation on all three issues earlier this month.

• "We will enshrine these rights to our Constitution, ensure our freedoms are no longer at risk, and hand the power back to the people," said Democratic Sen. Jennifer Boysko, who sponsored the abortion resolution.
  
• Proposed constitutional amendments must be passed twice by lawmakers in at least two years, with an intervening election between the two sessions. Then the amendments can go to a public referendum.

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