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Yesterday, after weeks of misleading Virginians about her position, Jen Kiggans finally admitted she supports a national abortion ban. The admission comes after national Republicans introduced a 15-week abortion ban that would superseded Virginia law and impose an abortion ban on Virginians, impose jail time on doctors, and allow states to ban abortion without exceptions.
Here’s what Virginians are reading and watching:
Virginia Scope: The Kiggans campaign implies she would support a 15-week ban on abortion
By Brandon Jarvis
September 15, 2022
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“Democrats are increasing pressure on VA-02 Republican nominee Jen Kiggans after Republicans in Congress introduced legislation to ban abortion across the country at 15 weeks. A statement from the Kiggans campaign implied that if she were to be elected, she would support a 15-week ban.”
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“In the past, Kiggans has said that it is a state issue, not a federal one, as a way to deflect away the question and steer away from Democratic attacks calling her an extremist.”
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“But that hasn’t stopped Democrats from pushing Kiggans for a response on her position. “Jen Kiggans is trying to run from and confuse voters about her record on abortion because she knows it will be toxic for her in November,” DCCC spokesperson Monica Robinson said Wednesday. “The truth is that Kiggans said in her own words that she is ‘100%, unapologetically pro-life’ and will be a rubber stamp for the Republican Party’s abortion bans in Congress.”
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“The Kiggans campaign responded by saying she supports common sense restrictions and implied that a 15-week ban would fall under that umbrella. ‘The vast majority of Virginians – and Americans – support common-sense restrictions on abortion such as protecting babies from 15 weeks on,’ said Kiggans campaign spokesperson Bryan Piligra.”
13 News Now: Kiggans sends mixed message on Republican-proposed federal abortion ban after 15 weeks
By Presten Steger
September 15, 2022
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“Republican State Sen. Jen Kiggans, who is running for a competitive House seat against Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria, suggested she supports an abortion ban after 15 weeks into a pregnancy. This comes shortly after U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham unveiled a bill to do so.
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“The statement aligns with the goal of Graham’s bill, which would federally prohibit the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy with rare exceptions.”
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“‘Jen Kiggans is an anti-abortion extremist. Full stop,’ Snidle said. ‘After attempting to hide and lie about her anti-abortion agenda, Kiggans has finally told Coastal Virginians the truth. Her unwavering support of a nationwide federal abortion ban is a danger to women and out of touch with Coastal Virginians.’”
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“Luria and her fellow Democrats have sought to paint Kiggans as an extremist, riding a wave of Democratic momentum on the issue after the Supreme Court overturned constitutional abortion rights.”
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“In a recent interview, J. Miles Coleman, the associate editor of elections forecaster Sabato’s Crystal Ball, said abortion could be a winning issue for Democrats.
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“Kiggans has pushed back on the abortion issue, calling it a distraction from economic issues she thinks voters care more about […] Her comments on the abortion issue’s importance contradict a recent poll from Roanoke College, which found that a majority of Virginians support some form of abortion rights.
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“‘Abortion is a deeply personal decision for women in Coastal Virginia and throughout the country,’ Luria said. ‘A nurse should know that the right to choose is not a ‘shiny object,’ and Jen Kiggans’ dismissive comments this morning are insulting to women everywhere.’”
Washington Post: Kiggans talks up 15-week abortion ban but won’t say if she’d vote for it
By Meagan Flynn
September 15, 2022
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“State Sen. Jen A. Kiggans (R-Virginia Beach), who is running against U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.) in one of Virginia’s most competitive congressional districts, called a national ban on abortion after 15 weeks a ‘common-sense’ restriction but did not say whether she would vote for it.”
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“The House and Senate legislation has complicated the messaging on abortion for Republicans running in moderate districts like Virginia’s 2nd, especially as Democrats seize on abortion as a central issue in the midterm elections.
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“Kiggans applauded the overturning of Roe v. Wade but maintained that she believed the ruling meant abortion policy would be left with the states, repeating the sentiment in a recent interview with The Post. Now, Graham’s and Rep. Christopher H. Smith’s (R-N.J.) legislation changes that, ensuring a debate on national abortion legislation and no doubt leaving voters on both sides wanting to know where their representative or candidate stands.
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“Graham introduced the legislation Tuesday flanked by representatives of the Susan B. Anthony List, an antiabortion group that endorsed Kiggans, and said that if Republicans take control of Congress he expects that they would push for a floor vote on the legislation.”
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