RICHMOND, Va. – Democratic Party of Virginia Chairwoman Susan Swecker today issued the following statement on the swearing-in of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court:

“After months of obstructing President Obama’s nominee to fill this vacancy on the Court, Senate Republicans invoked the nuclear option and confirmed a justice who is even more radical than Antonin Scalia. Those who oppose women's reproductive rights and who want to turn back the clock to 1955 have spent millions of dollars to back his nomination and guarantee his confirmation– which reinforces the gravity of what’s at stake. Although Justice Gorsuch has claimed he will respect the precedent set in Roe v. Wade, reproductive freedom is at risk like never before. The erosion of rights is rarely something that happens overnight, and the Supreme Court holds the power to slowly, if not subtly, chip away at our autonomy.

"That's why this election is so important, not just here in Virginia, but to send a signal across the nation. Electing Democrats to represent us in Richmond will help insulate ourselves from attacks like those from Ed Gillespie, who said he wants to ban abortion, and from Republicans in the House of Delegates who this year tried to do exactly that. Though their attempt failed, they succeeded in passing a woman-shaming resolution that designated the anniversary of Roe v. Wade a 'Day of Tears.'

"It's critical that we elect a Democratic governor and Democrats up and down the ballot this fall. I encourage everyone who is alarmed by Justice Gorsuch’s confirmation to the Supreme Court to commit to helping elect Democrats this November."

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