McAuliffe, Northam to attend women’s march

Gov. Terry McAuliffe says he will attend Saturday’s Women’s March on Washington

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced at a Capitol news conference Thursday that he will march with a leading abortion-rights advocate at a rally the day after President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

McAuliffe stated that he and Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam would join Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards at Saturday’s Women’s March on Washington. Organizers are calling for a greater voice for women in political life.  The Democratic governor and Northam have both been outspoken supporters of abortion rights.

McAuliffe, a close friend of former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, says he is not attending Trump’s inauguration.

McAuliffe said his plans were not meant as a snub to the incoming Republican president and that he’s eager to work with Trump on issues affecting Virginia, including defense and infrastructure spending, but the governor said “part of that equation is open and welcoming government.”

Northam looking to shore up votes from Democrats

Northam is looking to gain favor among Democratic voters before the June gubernatorial primary after the surprise late entrance of former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello into the race. Abortion rights could be a major issue in the primary, due to Perriello’s vote for an anti-abortion amendment while in Congress.”Saturday will be a message to the country, and to the globe that we in Virginia, we lean in on the very important issue as it relates to women’s rights,” McAuliffe said.

Several Democratic congressmen from Virginia have also said they skip the event.