NARAL: ‘Senator McClellan is the right person to meet this important moment in our Commonwealth’s and nation’s history’
RICHMOND, Va. — Today, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia PAC endorsed Senator Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond) to become the next governor of Virginia, in an event at the Virginia Women’s Monument in Richmond. NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia PAC is the political action arm of NARAL, the Virginia chapter of the oldest abortion rights advocacy group in the United States.
McClellan and NARAL have worked together to safeguard Virginians’ access to reproductive health and abortion throughout McClellan’s 15 years in the General Assembly. In 2020, McClellan was awarded NARAL Virginia’s Legislator of the Year Award for her work passing the Reproductive Health Protection Act, making Virginia the first state in the South to proactively protect access to abortion care and reproductive health.
McClellan made history as the first pregnant delegate in Virginia history and has been a leader fighting for women’s health care and reproductive rights in the Virginia General Assembly for 16 sessions. A fierce advocate for reproductive rights and access under Democratic control and Republican, McClellan chief-patroned the newly passed law to allow abortion coverage to be offered on the state health care exchange. McClellan also fought to expand worker protections for pregnant women, passing the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act.
“NARAL’s endorsement is a huge sign of the momentum that will help our campaign make history this November,” Sen. McClellan said. “NARAL is one of the most significant progressive organizations in Virginia politics, and this endorsement sends a clear message to voters ahead of the June primary. I have the strongest record of expanding reproductive rights in the race for governor, and I will stand with NARAL to lead on reproductive health care as governor.
“As governor, I will make safeguarding reproductive health a top priority by enshrining reproductive freedom into the Virginia constitution to protect the right to choose for generations to come. We need more than a brick wall to protect reproductive freedom, we must remove barriers to access for too many women. I started that work 15 years ago in the legislature, and I’ll keep going as governor. ”
“NARAL Virginia is thrilled to throw our support behind a proven reproductive freedom
champion and partner – Senator Jennifer McClellan. She is a champion among a crowded field of champions. But what sets her apart is her deep commitment and narrow focus to ensuring reproductive freedom is a true reality for each and every Virginian. Senator McClellan is the right person to meet this important moment in our Commonwealth’s and nation’s history and we look forward to helping her win the Democratic nomination for governor,” said NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Executive Director Tarina Keene.
WATCH: NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Endorsement Announcement with McClellan
In 2017, NARAL endorsed Gov. Ralph Northam in the contested Democratic gubernatorial primary, citing his record as “one of their most reliable allies in the Virginia statehouse.”
Last month, the McClellan campaign rolled out a new Women for McClellan action group with more than 75 endorsers, including Virginia’s first congresswoman – former U.S. Representative Leslie Byrne (D-Fairfax); Senators Mamie Locke (D-Hampton), Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax), and Ghazala Hashmi (D-Chesterfield); and Delegates Betsy Carr (D-Richmond) and Kathy Tran (D-Fairfax).
See the full list of Women For McClellan endorsers below:
Former U.S. Representative Leslie Byrne (D-Fairfax)
Senator Mamie Locke (D-Hampton)
Senator Jennifer Boysko (D-Fairfax)
Senator Ghazala Hashmi (D-Chesterfield)
Delegate Betsy Carr (D-Richmond)
Delegate Kathy Tran (D-Fairfax)
The Honorable Viola Baskerville, Former Delegate and Secretary of Administration
Karen Darner, Former Delegate and Former Arlington Education Association President
Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed
Former Charlottesville Mayor Virginia Daugherty
Chair Phyllis Randall, Chairwoman of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors
Katie Cristol, Member of the Arlington County Board of Supervisors
Faye Prichard, Member of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors
Connie Brennan, Former Member of the Nelson County Board of Supervisors
The Honorable Daun Hester, City Treasurer and Former Delegate from Norfolk
Alisa Gregory, Sheriff of Henrico County
Tiffany Boyle, Newport News Commissioner of Revenue
Jenefer Hughes, Chesterfield County Commissioner of Revenue
Katherine Jordan, Richmond City Councilmember
Treney Tweedy, Lynchburg City Councilmember
Patricia White-Boyd, Roanoke City Councilmember
Marylin Alexander, Lexington City Councilmember
Laurie Buchwald, former Radford City Council Member and founder of Elect Women SWVA
Liz Altieri, Vice Chair of the Radford School Board
Dr. Shonda M. Harris-Mohammad, Richmond School Board Member
Tannia Talento, Latino Community Leader and Former Chair of the Arlington County School Board
Mary Jo Sheeley, Attorney and Former Candidate for House of Delegates
Jacinta Greene, Alexandria School Board Member
Atoosa Reaser, Loudoun County School Board Member
Carol Ao Wolf , Former Richmond School Board Member and Education Advocate
Cydny Neville, Dumfries Town Councilmember
Dr. Kitty Boitnott, Former Virginia Education Association President
Monica Hutchinson, Henrico County Community Leader
Natasha McKeller-Crosby, LGBTQ+ Advocate and Business Leader
Megan Gruber, Former Virginia Education Association President
Dr. Cathy Bacote, Education Leader and Administrator
Janine Bell, Community Leader from Richmond
Sindy Benavides, Advocate
Anita Coleman-Wynn, Community Volunteer
Jewel Jordan, Community Activist
Allida Black, Human Rights Activist from Arlington
Liz Bryant, Business Leader from Richmond
Sidra Butt, Community Leader from Chesterfield
Annie Campbell, Educator from Richmond
Lakshmi Challa, Immigration Attorney from Henrico
Megan Clark, Commonwealth Attorney from Prince Edward County
Leslie Cockburn, Investigative Journalist and Former Candidate for U.S. Representative from Virginia
Rita Davis, Attorney from Richmond
Dr. Andrea Douglas, Community Leader from Charlottesville
Jennifer Eason, Teacher from Virginia Beach
Deanna Fierro, Education Advocate from Richmond
Debra Gardner, Community Leader from Chesterfield
Dawnee Giammittorio , Gun Violence Prevention Advocate from Fairfax County
Leni Gonzalez, Latino Community Leader from Arlington
Morgan Goodman, Environmental Scientist and Former Candidate for Delegate from Mechanicsville
Brandi Harrin, Educator from Richmond
Katina Harris, Richmond Public Schools Educator and Parent
Kati Hornung, Equality Advocate from Chesterfield
Holly Jackson-Conrad, Retired Richmond Educator
Barbara Klear, Norfolk Community Leader
Wendy Klein, Physician and Health Equity Advocate from Richmond
Thomasine Lawrence, Retired Richmond Public Schools Educator
Judy Le, Albemarle County School Board Member
Kelli Lemon, Co-Founder of Black Richmond Restaurant Experience and Virginia Corporation Tourism Boardmember
Yvonne Lewis, Community Leader from Virginia Beach
Dr. Doris Mallory Bey, Retired Richmond Public Schools Administrator
Rev. Dr. Melissa Mason, Faith Leader and Vice Chair of the Matthews County Board of Supervisors
Erin Matson, Women’s Rights Advocate and Former VP of National Organization for Women
Christine McBee, Teacher from Williamsburg
Brenda Mead, Staunton City Council Member
Faith “Liza” Mickens, Community Leader
Pam Mines, Disability and Child Care Advocate from Richmond
Rupa Murthy, Richmond Community Leader
Missy Neff, Civic Leader, Richmond
Tram Nguyen, Co-Director of New Virginia Majority
Jamie Nolan, Richmond Community Leader
Christy Burton Omarzai, Chesterfield Business Owner
Susan Platt, Founder of EmergeVA and Former Chief of Staff to President Joe Biden
Amanda Pohl, Former Democratic Nominee for Virginia Senate District 11
Rev. Jean Pupke, Pastor and Faith Leader from Richmond
Toni Radler, Former Chair of the Hanover Democratic Committee
Alexis Rodgers, Virginia Director of Care In Action and Former Candidate for Richmond Mayor
Antoinette Rogers, Education Leader from Richmond
Leslie Rubio, Richmond Business Leader
Glenda Scales, Community Leader from Blacksburg
Ann Taylor, Educator from Petersburg
Pastor Michelle Thomas, Faith and Community Leader from Loudoun County
Linda Thomas, Community Activist from Caroline County
Kerri Treadway, Teacher from Richmond
Ruth Twiggs, Richmond Community Leader
Patsy Watson, Grassroots Community Advocate
Amy Wentz, Community Leader and Founder of Black RVA
Adrienne Whitaker, Chief Strategist of 4VABlue – Richmond
Stephanie Wilkinson, Business Leader from Lexington
Dr. Omega Wilson, Education Leader from Richmond
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