[1]In addition to Tran, the House bill was co-sponsored by Delegates Hala Ayala, Jennifer Carroll Foy, Lee Carter, Wendy Gooditis, Elizabeth Guzman, Patrick Hope, Jay Jones, Kaye Kory, Paul Krizek, Mark Levine, Alfonso H. Lopez, Delores McQuinn, Sam Rasoul, David A. Reid, Debra Rodman, Marcus Simon, Cheryl Turpin, Roslyn Tyler, and Schuyler VanValkenburg.

Delegate Todd Gilbert, chairman of the subcommittee, asked Tran: "How late in the third trimester could a physician perform an abortion if he indicated it would impair the mental health of the woman?

"[4][5] Pressing further, Gilbert asked Tran if a woman who has physical signs she is about to give birth could request an abortion if a physician said it could impair her mental health.

[11][12] Video of Tran's exchange with Gilbert was posted to social media by Virginia Republicans and went viral, receiving millions of views on Twitter.

[13] It sparked outrage, especially in the wake of New York's passage of the Reproductive Health Act, and inflamed political divisions.

[9][14] Several news publications noted that Virginia law already allows third-trimester abortions up to the point of dilating, although only when three physicians agree that the mother's physical or mental health would be "substantially and irremediably" harmed by continued pregnancy.

[9][14][15][a] The Repeal Act, if passed, would have allowed such an abortion to occur if a single physician determines that continued pregnancy poses any mental or physical health risk to the mother.

[14] United States Senator Marco Rubio tweeted he "never thought I would see the day America had government officials who openly support legal infanticide", and U.S.

"[8] Sasse said he would seek to fast-track the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act in the Senate, in response to the controversy.

[21] President Donald Trump weighed in, saying he was "surprised that Northam did that, I've met him a number of times", and saying of Tran's comments: "I thought it was terrible.

"[22] Trump revisited the topic in his 2019 State of the Union Address, when he inaccurately claimed that Northam would "execute a baby after birth".

[23][24][25][26] A spokeswoman for Northam later issued a statement, saying: "No woman seeks a third trimester abortion, except in the case of tragic or difficult circumstances, such as a non-viable pregnancy or in the event of severe fetal abnormalities, and the governor's comments were limited to the actions physicians would take in the event that a woman in those circumstances went into labor.

None of this changes that I believe women must have safe, legal options for abortion; but I also would have seen the utility of language that provides guidelines for how to ensure this.