Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has sparked controversy after vetoing a series of bills passed by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly, including one aimed at protecting access to contraception and another that would have stripped tax exemptions for Confederate heritage groups. The Republican governor's decisions have drawn sharp criticism from Democratic party leaders and reignited debates over reproductive rights and the legacy of the Confederacy in the state.
In a statement explaining his veto of the contraception bill, Youngkin said, "While I look forward to working with the General Assembly to see if we can reach agreement on language in the future, today I must act on the language before me, and there are several bills which are not ready to become law." He added, "This includes legislation related to contraception. Let me be crystal clear: I support access to contraception. However, we cannot trample on the religious freedoms of Virginians."
The vetoed bill would have enshrined the right to obtain and use contraceptives in Virginia, prohibiting any commonwealth or locality from implementing rules that restrict the sale, provision, or use of contraceptives. Youngkin, however, argued that the bill "creates an overly broad cause of action against political subdivisions and parents, as well as medical professionals" and "undermines the fundamental right of parents to make decisions concerning their children's upbringing and care."
The Virginia Democratic Party swiftly condemned Youngkin's decision, with chairwoman Susan Swecker stating, "By vetoing this bill, Youngkin just proved to Virginians that once again, he does not care about their health or rights." The veto comes at a time when dozens of states have passed restrictions on access to contraceptives following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, which ended the federal right to abortion.
In another controversial move, Youngkin vetoed two bills that would have stripped tax exemptions for the United Daughters of the Confederacy, an organization that has opposed the removal of statues and markers honoring Confederate generals. The governor wrote in his veto statement, "Narrowly targeting specific organizations to gain or lose such tax exemptions sets an inappropriate precedent," but acknowledged that property tax exemptions were "ripe for reform, delineated by inconsistencies and discrepancies."
Senator Angelia Williams Graves of Norfolk, one of the sponsors of the bill, criticized Youngkin's decision on X (formerly Twitter), writing that the governor "wants to keep giving our tax breaks to hate organizations like the Daughters of the Confederacy." Don Scott Jr, the first Black speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, told the New York Times that the purpose of the bill was to ensure the state code better reflects the commonwealth's modern values.
Jinny Widowski, the president of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, defended her organization, stating that the legislative efforts against the group were unfair and discriminatory. "The continued harassment of our ladies and our mission will not deter us from the charitable work that we do," she said. The group acknowledges that Confederate statues and markers are viewed as divisive but maintains that they represent a memorial to their ancestors who fought during the Civil War.
Youngkin's vetoes come amid a larger national debate over the removal of Confederate symbols and the ongoing pushback by conservative groups against changes made in the wake of the racial reckoning following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. In Shenandoah County, Virginia, an all-white school board recently voted to restore the names of Confederate leaders to two public schools, a decision that has drawn both support and condemnation.
As the controversy surrounding Governor Youngkin's vetoes continues to unfold, it has highlighted the deep divisions that persist in Virginia and across the nation regarding issues of reproductive rights, racial justice, and the legacy of the Confederacy. The governor's decisions have drawn praise from some conservative quarters but have also sparked fierce criticism from those who see them as a step backward in the fight for equality and social progress.
