More than 80% of Virginians want to make gender equality part of our constitution by ratifying the equal rights amendment, but yesterday Congressman Rob Wittman voted against it.
In 2018, I remember the sadness many felt as the Equal Rights Amendment died in the Virginia General Assembly by one vote. The 38 state threshold was not met.
In 2019, Virginia ran Democrats across the Commonwealth from school board to state senate. I was one of them, looking to replace my state senator who was adamant that the ERA would somehow enable on demand abortion—a lie. Candidates like myself couldn’t take the risk of letting the ERA die by one vote again. That November, while I didn’t win, Virginia Democrats took the majority in the House and Senate. Now, in 2020, the ERA passed out of both chambers with overwhelming support. Shockingly enough, my senate opponent who was so against the ERA on the 2019 campaign trail, voted to pass the ERA in 2020.
With this win, Virginia became the 38th state needed for the ERA to become an amendment. However, the deadline for that to happen was in 1979. It was sent to the US House of Representatives today to extend the deadline and passed through the Democratic chamber. Five Republicans joined 227 Democrats to extend the ratification period, which means on a bi-partisan basis the House supports the ERA.
Rob Wittman voted no on the quality and instead sent out an alarming e-mail claiming that the ERA is an excuse for abortion. This is the same lie my state Senate opponent made last year to argue against the ERA before he voted for the ERA this year.
The ERA would do no such thing and Republicans need to stop repeating this dangerous lie. I’m running to represent the people of Virginia’s First Congressional District because it is 2020 and women must have equal rights under the Constitution.
Women’s rights are on the ballot this year and I need your help to ensure we win. You can contribute to our campaign here.