VA STATE SENATE: Morrissey (D), Aird (D) face off for Senate nomination with abortion in spotlight
CITY POINT - At the point where the Appomattox and James rivers meet in Hopewell, former Del. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, sought to ride a rising tide of national concern over the future of abortion rights in her quest to unseat Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Petersburg, in a new state Senate seat that could be pivotal in Virginia's position on women's reproductive rights.
Aird, unseated on the same night that Gov. Glenn Youngkin led a sweep of statewide offices two years ago, was flanked by a trio of abortion-rights advocates who proclaimed the importance of electing her and defeating Morrissey in a Democratic primary fight in the new 13th Senate District. The contest has attracted national attention a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade protection of abortion rights.
"This has been a fascinating race to watch," said Bob Holsworth, a longtime Richmond political analyst. "He's a pro-life Democrat running in a majority-minority district."
Aird has highlighted Morrissey's record on abortion in a "Roe Not Joe" tour as the campaign heads into its final month before the primary on June 20.
https://richmond.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/morrissey-aird-face-off-for-senate-nomination-with-abortion-in-spotlight/article_c125fb58-f01c-11ed-bec7-1395836f0e9c.html