Last month, Virginians showed the highest voter turnout since the 1990s for a primary without a gubernatorial nomination, according to preliminary data from the Virginia Public Access Project.
Looking ahead to November, Compassion & Choices recognizes this moment as a rare and urgent opportunity to advance the end-of-life options movement not just in VA but across the country.
While public support for medical aid in dying continues to grow across the country, Virginia’s legislation remains stalled. Despite building a strong network of legislative champions and grassroots advocates who work tirelessly to do outreach and education, our efforts in the Commonwealth have consistently been blocked by a single barrier: the threat of the governor’s veto pen. That barrier is hopefully about to come down.
Virginia’s current governor, who has stood in the way of progress, is term-limited and cannot run again. This alone makes the 2025 elections a game-changer. Whoever Virginians elect as their next governor will determine whether future medical aid-in-dying bills have a chance to become law.
Control of the Virginia House of Delegates is also up for grabs. Like the Senate, the 2024 House elections in Virginia secured a narrow Democratic majority, and this year’s House elections remain competitive. General election results could mean the difference between continued gridlock or historic progress for end-of-life options.
Polling consistently shows that Virginians, like most Americans, overwhelmingly support medical aid in dying. Voters believe in autonomy, compassion, and the right to make end-of-life decisions free from government interference. What’s missing is elected leadership to match this public consensus. This election offers a chance to align the will of the people with the policies of their government.
Virginia’s off-year elections have also long been viewed as a national bellwether. Coming just one year after a presidential election, Virginia draws disproportionate attention and resources from national political media and movements alike.
With only New Jersey sharing the political spotlight in 2025 — its governor is also termed out — Virginia will be a primary focus as narratives about the current direction of state-level politics begin to take shape. Our sister organization, Compassion & Choices Action Network (CCAN), hopes that this attention will send a powerful signal nationwide: end-of-life autonomy is a winning issue with broad support and growing momentum. Compassion & Choices remains focused on expanding access, public education and litigation, while CCAN is focused on legislative and political work at the federal and state levels.
We know that electoral engagement is about more than one cycle or one race. It’s about building lasting power for our movement so that we can advance compassionate policies not just today, but for years to come.To this end, CCAN is:
✅ Building relationships with future decision-makers who will champion our cause.
✅ Demonstrating political strength by mobilizing voters and showing officials that end-of-life options are a mainstream, majority-supported issue.
✅ Strengthening our grassroots by continuing to grow the current active networks of volunteers, advocates, and supporters who are laying the ground work to ensure we are ready to push for change the moment opportunities arise.
✅ Laying the groundwork for future wins — even in tough election cycles, by expanding our corps of champions to keep end-of-life issues front and center.
To capitalize on this unprecedented opportunity, CCAN is preparing to scale up electoral engagement in a big way. Among the strategies being pursued are:
🔑 Targeting key races in the House of Delegates, the lieutenant governor, and the governor’s race, thereby focusing resources where they will have the greatest impact.
🗳️ Mobilizing supporters to ensure medical aid-in-dying advocates turn out.
🤝 Forging strategic partnerships with allied organizations to amplify our message and maximize reach.
🏛️ Strengthening advocacy infrastructure so that when a favorable legislature and governor are in place, we can move swiftly toward passing a medical aid-in-dying law.
Virginia’s 2025 elections aren’t just another political contest, they are a once-in-a-decade opportunity to unlock progress for thousands of people seeking compassionate end-of-life options. With your engagement, we can reshape Virginia’s political future, strengthen the national movement for medical aid in dying, and advance the core values of dignity, autonomy, and choice.
Together, we can ensure that Virginians — and ultimately, all Americans — have the freedom to make end-of-life decisions that align with their values and beliefs.
The Compassion & Choices family comprises two organizations: Compassion & Choices (the 501(c)(3)), whose focus is expanding access, public education and litigation; and Compassion & Choices Action Network (the 501(c)(4)), whose focus is legislative work at the federal and state levels.
Paid for in part by Compassion & Choices Action Network.
Mail contributions directly to:
Compassion & Choices Gift Processing Center
PO Box 485
Etna, NH 03750
Compassion & Choices is a 501 C3 organization. Federal tax number: 84-1328829
