Virginia lawmakers voted to abolish the death penalty on Monday.
The House version of the bill won approval by a vote of 22-16 in the Senate, and the Senate version was approved by a vote of 57-43 in the House of Delegates. Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, is expected to sign the legislation.
“That notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person may be sentenced to death or put to death on or after the effective date of this act for any violation of law,” the legislation reads.
If approved, the state’s maximum penalty will be life without the possibility of parole.
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Northam signaled his intent to sign the legislation in a statement released after the vote, calling the bill “an important step forward in ensuring that our criminal justice system is fair and equitable to all.”
“It is vital that our criminal justice system operates fairly and punishes people equitably. We all know the death penalty doesn’t do that. It is inequitable, ineffective, and inhumane. … It’s time we stop this machinery of death,” he said. “Thanks to the vote of lawmakers in both chambers, Virginia will join 22 other states that have ended use of the death penalty.”
The bill’s passage was celebrated by the state’s Democrats, with Sen. Tim Kaine calling the move “a singular achievement marking a repudiation of racism and a commitment to justice” in a Washington Post op-ed.
Kaine noted that Virginia executed its first citizen in 1608 and 1,390 others since. After abolishing the death penalty in 1972, the Supreme Court reinstated it in 1976, at which point Virginia was second only to Texas in terms of executions.
Republicans were critical of the move, arguing that some crimes are so heinous they warrant capital punishment.
“I voted not to abolish because I believe that there are cases where capital punishment is an appropriate sanction,” state Sen. Mark Obenshain said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “I will continue to support legislation which strengthens, not weakens, our criminal justice systems and protects and respects victims of crimes.”
Del. Jason Miyares, a Republican who joined the race to become Virginia’s attorney general in December, argued the move reflects poor prioritization from state legislators.
“I think it’s one more example of the fact that you have a far-left majority, one-party rule in Richmond that is much more concerned about criminals than victims,” he told the Washington Examiner. “I think today is a sad day for the victims of some of the worst crimes imaginable.”
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When asked whether Democrats want criminals to be “let off easy,” Miyares responded, “Yes.”
“Your question is, ‘Do I think that they want to make it easier for criminals to serve less time behind bars?'” he added. “That is exactly what they have said in their testimony.”
