Hey VA! We’re here today with the latest in Virginia and across the country. First we share the June primary election results, including the winning percentage and number of votes.
We also share the response from Governor Youngkin on the SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Read to learn more about what’s next.
We also have updates on the bipartisan Gun Control Legislation that passed last week, what it does and how we’ll move forward. We end your newsletter with Virginia headlines and COVID data.
This week’s newsletter covers;
▪️ June Primary Election Results
▪️ Roe v. Wade in Virginia
▪️ Gun Control Legislation
▪️ Virginia Headlines
▪️ COVID-19 Data
▪️ Vaccine Data
🗳 Primary Election Results
Virginia voters went out to vote in the June Primary Elections. Only 5 out of the 11 Congressional Districts held primary elections. Here are the results listed below:
Primary Election Winners:
2nd Congressional District - Republican Primary:
Jen A. Kiggans (55.68% - 23,276 votes)
3rd Congressional District - Republican Primary:
Terry T. Namkung (60.46% - 6,293 votes)
6th Congressional District - Republican Primary:
Ben L. Cline* (82.15% - 19,614 votes)
7th Congressional District - Republican Primary:
Yesli I. Vega (28.95% - 10,912 votes)
8th Congressional District - Democratic Primary:
Donald S. Beyer, Jr.* (77.14% - 39,032 votes)
* Indicates Incumbent
Sources: www.elections.virginia.gov & www.vpap.org
🏥 Roe v. Wade in Virginia
The Supreme Court released its decision and ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade, the longtime legal precedent guaranteeing the right of legal abortion in the United States.
Governor Glenn Youngkin praised the decision in his Friday statement. He said that he's asked senators and delegates to join in an effort to bring together legislators and advocates from across the commonwealth to find areas where people can agree and find a successful path forward.
"The Supreme Court of the United States has rightfully returned power to the people and their elected representatives in the states," he said. I'm proud to be a pro-life Governor and plan to take every action I can to protect life."
"The truth is, Virginians want fewer abortions, not more abortions," he continued. "We can build a bipartisan consensus on protecting the life of unborn children, especially when they begin to feel pain in the womb, and importantly supporting mothers and families who choose life."
He's also calling for a 15-week threshold for legal abortions in Virginia, which currently allows them through 25 weeks.
Under current Virginia law, abortion is legal in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. The procedure is allowed in the third trimester if the pregnancy “is likely to result in the death of the woman or substantially and irremediably impair the mental or physical health of the woman.” Minors are required to have parental consent for an abortion. Public funding for the procedure in the state is only available in cases of life endangerment, rape, incest or fetal impairment, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
Sources: www.wusa9.com & www.politico.com
🏛 Gun Control Legislation
The Senate late Thursday voted 65 to 33 to pass the bipartisan gun control bill, the most significant legislation addressing guns in nearly 30 years.
The signing comes just over a month after the mass shooting at a Texas elementary school killed 19 children and two adults. That attack came 10 days after a racist mass shooting at a Buffalo, N.Y., supermarket killed 10 Black people.
The legislation, which passed the House 234-193 Friday night following Senate approval Thursday, includes incentives for states to pass so-called red flag laws that allow groups to petition courts to remove weapons from people deemed a threat to themselves or others.
In addition, the bill expands an existing law that prevents people convicted of domestic abuse from owning a gun to include dating partners rather than just spouses and former spouses.
It also expands background checks on people between the ages of 18 and 21 seeking to buy a gun.
Sources: www.npr.org & www.cbsnews.com & www.apnews.com
📰 Virginia Headlines
CBS News - CDC and FDA clear the way for COVID vaccines for kids under 5. Some 20 million babies, toddlers, and preschoolers are now eligible to be vaccinated for COVID-19, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky signed off on unanimous votes from her agency's outside vaccine advisers to recommend shots from Moderna as well as Pfizer and BioNTech for children as young as six months old.
NBC 12 News - Copycat THC products to be banned in Virginia starting July 1. The effort comes as more children are being hospitalized for exposure to THC - the part of the marijuana plant that makes people high. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares announced the new law during a press conference Wednesday afternoon. Copycat THC products are THC-laced candy or snacks that mimic well-known brands like Doritos, Lucky Charms and Starbust. Miyares said the look-alikes are to blame for exposure to children.
Wric News - Flash flooding in Petersburg, advisories in effect across central Virginia. Petersburg is asking citizens to stay off the roads this evening, if possible, due to heavy rains and flooding. Several flood advisories are in effect across central Virginia, according to the National Weather Service. The flood advisories include several localities, such as Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg, Dinwiddie, Prince George, Richmond, Hanover and Henrico. For a complete list of all areas included in the weather alert, click here.
📊 COVID-19 & Vaccine Data
COVID-19 in Virginia:
The Virginia Department of Health reported Monday that the statewide total for COVID-19 cases is 1,859,589. The 1,859,589 consists of 1,328,751 confirmed and 530,838 probable cases. There are 20,521 COVID-19 deaths, and Virginia’s 7-day positivity rate is now at 18.9%.
Vaccine Data in Virginia:
Vaccine Summary: As of Monday, June 27
Total Doses Administered: 16,033,656
People Vaccinated with at least 1 dose: 7,088,260 or 82.5%
% of Adults (18+) Vaccinated with at least 1 dose: 93.4%
People Fully Vaccinated: 6,353,203 or 74.0%
% of Adults (18+) Fully Vaccinated: 83.9%
People Vaccinated with Booster / Third dose: 3,142,691
For more information on Virginia's vaccination efforts, please visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA
source: vdh.virginia.gov
Thanks for joining us this week!
Please be kind and respect one another, we are all in this together.
- Maria Reynoso, Editor in Chief