Richmond, VA — Following the news that the Supreme Court threw out Republicans’ lawsuit to overturn the entire Affordable Care Act, Democratic Party of Virginia Chair Susan Swecker released the following statement: 

“Today’s decision is proof that the millions of Virginians who benefit from the Affordable Care Act deserve the access to affordable quality health care they’re getting thanks to Democrats. While Republicans have spent years trying to tear down this law and rip health care away from tens of millions of people across the country, the ACA is here to stay. 

Virginia Democrats are determined to keep building on its progress — from expanding Medicaid to over half a million people to fighting for lower prescription drug costs. While Glenn Youngkin and Virginia Republicans have attacked the ACA at every turn, the court’s ruling today is another sign that they’re far too extreme for our commonwealth.” 

Republican candidate for governor Glenn Youngkin has attacked the Affordable Care Act and slammed Virginia’s Medicaid expansion as a “sad thing.” Youngkin has also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars funding the campaigns of Republican members of Congress who have voted to gut the ACA.

Youngkin has completely aligned himself with Donald Trump - who spent four years trying to repeal and undermine the ACA. One of his most prominent endorsers and staunch ally in the Senate - Ted Cruz - has said, “I want to be remembered as the president who repealed every word of Obamacare.” With Virginians’ health care on the ballot this year, Youngkin has aligned himself with Republicans who are determined to threaten health care coverage for millions of people. 

Republican attorneys general spearheaded the lawsuit brought before the Supreme Court — another sign that Jason Miyares’s far-right record on health care would be dangerous for Virginians. Miyares voted against expanding Medicaid in 2018. And he opposed creating a state health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act that would help lower insurance costs for Virginians. Meanwhile Attorney General Mark Herring joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general to successfully defend the law against attacks from Republican AGs and the Trump Administration. 

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