Va. Senate votes to abolish executions

The Democratically controlled Virginia State Senate voted Wednesday to eliminate the death penalty. The vote will put an end to almost four centuries of execution. The vote was along party lines was 21-17 after two hours of debate.

Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment sought to recast the bill in a way that would not abolish the death penalty entirely but would reduce its scope. His proposals were defeated.

Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam has said he supports a full repeal. A House version of the bill still needs a committee hearing before it can advance to the full chamber.

Virginia has traditionally been an active capital punishment state. It has executed nearly 1,400 people in more than four centuries, more than any other state, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. In modern times, Virginia is second only to Texas in the number of executions since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976.

Only two men remain on death row. Surovell’s bill would commute their sentences to life without parole.