By David Nova

“Planned Parenthood” and “women’s health care” have been touted favorably on post-election lists of winners and losers. That’s no surprise. President Obama and Sen.-elect Tim Kaine won in great part because of their strong positions on women’s health. Both ran spirited campaigns in Virginia characterizing the stark dichotomy between their positions on women’s issues and that of their Republican opponents.

Whether Planned Parenthood — or more precisely, our patients — benefits from these electoral outcomes seems a foregone conclusion. Yet, beyond the mere vote totals lies a disturbing divide between the two major political parties over women’s health care. With each passing election, Democratic candidates increasingly support access to safe, legal abortion and contraception and Republican candidates increasingly do not.

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Nova is director of strategic initiatives for the Planned Parenthood Health Systems Action Fund in Roanoke.