The Spanberger campaign is criticizing its opponent for an endorsement from a powerful group that completely opposes abortion. The Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) endorsed Republican Yesli Vega last week as she hopes to defeat incumbent Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) this November in VA-07. Vega pushed back against Spanberger accusing her of trying to distract voters and being out of touch with what Virginians want.
SBA is a fiercely pro-life organization dedicated to electing officials who will support legislation to end abortion in the United States.
We are confident @yestoyesli will be a strong, fearless advocate for unborn babies and their mothers. Check out our endorsement and the latest from #VA07 in @townhallcom: https://t.co/EclcafrN0p pic.twitter.com/ofaZjineJy
— SBA Pro-Life America LifeSavingLaws.com (@sbaprolife) September 2, 2022
Spanberger’s campaign denounced the endorsement in a statement Tuesday. “This endorsement should come as no surprise to Virginians who have witnessed Yesli Vega’s anti-abortion extremism on full display ever since she announced her run for Congress,” said Justin Chermol, the press secretary for Spanberger’s campaign. “Vega, a former police officer, has cast doubt on the likelihood that women who are raped can become pregnant and said only God – not a doctor – can decide the life of the mother. Now, she is touting her endorsement from a group that wants to block access to contraception.”
A spokesperson for SBA List says the group focuses on a single issue, abortion, and that is it. They take no stance on contraception or any other issue besides abortion. The spokesperson for SBA List accused Spanberger of trying to distract Virginians from her own personal view of being pro-choice.
Vega also accused Spanberger of being out of touch with the majority of Virginians on abortion. “Abigail Spanberger is to the far left of even her own party which has gone from safe, legal, and rare, to abortion on demand, anytime, and at the taxpayers’ expense. She is out of step with a majority of Virginians and Americans who agree there should be less abortions, not more,” Vega said in a statement to Virginia Scope Tuesday. “But it should come as no surprise that Abigail supports abortion on demand. She’s accepted nearly a quarter of a million dollars from the abortion lobby to continue advocating for limitless taxpayer funded abortions.”
Abortion is a hot talking point in nearly every election across this country after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade earlier this year. Vega has been hit especially hard by the abortion rhetoric after audio of her comments in the past were released. She was pressed earlier this year by someone with a hidden video camera to answer if she believes it is harder for a woman to get pregnant when she is raped.
Vega responded in the video: “Well, maybe because there’s so much going on in the body. I don’t know. I haven’t, you know, seen any studies. But if I’m processing what you’re saying, it wouldn’t surprise me. Because it’s not something that’s happening organically. You’re forcing it. The individual, the male, is doing it as quickly — it’s not like, you know — and so I can see why there is truth to that. It’s unfortunate.”
Spanberger used those comments against Vega for weeks.
On Tuesday, Spanberger’s campaign also released a video clip from Vega speaking at a church in February saying that as a Christian, she supports the traditional definition of marriage.
Spanberger was first elected to the House in 2018 when she defeated Rep. Dave Brat (R). Spanberger then earned reelection in 2020 when she defeated state Del. Nick Freitas (R).
Vega has been a member of the Prince William Board of Supervisors since 2019.
These candidates are running in a new district that is completely different than it was in 2020. According to an analysis from VPAP, Glenn Youngkin won this new VA-07 with 52% of the vote during 2021’s gubernatorial election.
Election day is Nov. 8.
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