Republican candidate for governor Glenn Youngkin is on the campaign trail talking to voters. But, he's not answering questions about one hot-button issue.
At a campaign event in McLean aimed at female voters with former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, Republican candidate for governor Glenn Youngkin spoke about a number of issues. But one issue was not on the agenda: abortion. After the event, Youngkin declined to answer questions about his position on restoring restrictions aimed at limiting abortions. Many women in the audience here at the event say they think he probably would restore those restrictions.
"Do you think that Glenn Youngkin would restore, for example, the requirement to get an ultrasound before you have an abortion," asks reporter Michael Pope.
"Probably. I think that he would be for it," replies Therese Antonio of Burke. And she's not alone. Many of the women here at the Youngkin event in northern Virginia say they hope he does take a position on restoring hospital construction standards for abortion clinics or requiring an ultrasound before a woman can get an abortion. Diane Cullo of Alexandria says she’s willing to wait for more clarity.
"I think that that is an issue that divides people more than unites them," Cullo says. "And I think that it's more important instead of asking people to pick a side, to ask people to sit around a table and have a conversation."
Youngkin was recently caught on a hot mic saying he plans to limit his comments about abortion. As he was leaving the event here in northern Virginia, he declined to sit around a table and have that conversation, although he did tell reporters he wanted to make time.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
