After years of setbacks, repro rights advocates are finally notching some significant wins. According to multiple Her Campus surveys, reproductive rights was the leading concern for Gen Zers voting in the 2024 federal election — and following the election of President Donald Trump into office, the rise of conservative rhetoric and policy had many more concerned than ever about this issue. Now, one year later, the 2025 election results show that the people are still fighting for this cause — and winning.
The 2025 election cycle wasn’t a flashy federal election; odd-year elections mostly occur on the state and local levels. However, there were some key races that many had their eyes on — especially when it came to reproductive rights. While voters weren’t specifically asked to decide on repro rights-related issues, the candidates on the ballot would shape the future of abortion and other reproductive care one way or another.
First, there were the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, two states currently considered safe havens for those seeking abortion care — especially those fleeing restrictions placed on other states. The governor of each state has a strong influence over whether repro rights would remain protected.
Further, in Pennsylvania, voters had to decide whether or not to retain three of the state’s Democratic Supreme Court justices. Voting to replace any or all of them could jeopardize the court’s Democratic majority, thus putting repro rights on the line.
Here’s how each state fared and what that means for reproductive rights.
New Jersey
In the race for governor between Republican former representative Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat current representative Mikie Sherrill, Sherrill won. Both candidates ostensibly support repro rights — but only to an extent.
“I’ve always supported a woman’s right to choose,” Ciattarelli said in an Oct. 8 debate. “What I don’t support is making New Jersey the abortion capital of the country, inviting other people — people from other states — to come to New Jersey and have their abortions performed. I don’t support that, let alone use taxpayer dollars to do that.” (He also has a record of voting to defund Planned Parenthood.)
In response to Ciattarelli’s debate comment, Sherrill said, “When you put in place things like my opponent has suggested, people die. These are not pro-choice positions.”
Upon Sherrill’s win, Planned Parenthood released a statement in support of the governor-elect. “Mikie Sherrill’s victory in New Jersey is a clear referendum on President Trump,” Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said in the statement. “Voters turned out to decisively reject the dangerous policies of his administration and protect our fundamental rights and freedoms. By electing Mikie Sherrill as their next governor, New Jerseyans sided with affordable health care and a governor who will always stand up for their reproductive freedom — as she has throughout her time in Congress.”
Virginia
Similarly, in Virginia, a pro-choice candidate won the governor’s seat. Democrat former representative Abigail Spanberger bested current lieutenant governor Republican Winsome Earle-Sears and will preside over the last state in the American South that doesn’t have an abortion ban in place. Earle-Sears has been a vocal opponent of abortion, while Spanberger has supported Virginia’s current abortion laws and also advocated for an amendment to the state’s constitution to protect abortion rights.
“Abigail Spanberger has been a proven champion for reproductive freedom in Congress and throughout her career,” Jamie Lockhart, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, said in a statement about Spanberger’s victory. “Virginians can count on her to protect access to birth control, abortion, fertility treatment, and miscarriage care, and to defend every Virginian’s right to make their own personal health care decisions.”
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania voters opted to retain each of the state supreme court justices up for renewal — Democrats Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht. This indicates this repro rights-friendly state is inclined to maintain its status quo.
“Pennsylvanians understood the high stakes of this election and voted to strengthen protections for reproductive freedom by retaining Justices Donohue, Dougherty, and Wecht,” McGill Johnson said in another statement. “We’ve seen time and again that voters turn out when reproductive health care is on the line. Pennsylvanians saw right through billionaire donors’ attempt to alter the balance of the court and to take away a pro-reproductive rights majority. This election sent a clear message: Pennsylvanians demand control over their bodies and their health care.” (And, I might add, so do many young voters across the U.S.)