How state lawmaker who called death penalty 'profoundly racist' helped kill the punishment In a historic vote on Monday, the Virginia General Assembly voted to abolish the death penalty. With Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's signature, Virginia will become the first southern state to do away with capital punishment. Virginia will join 22 other states that have ended state-sanctioned executions. and last updated 2021-02-23 17:02:06-05 RICHMOND, Va. -- In a historic vote on Monday, the Virginia General Assembly voted to abolish the death penalty. With Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's signature, Virginia will become the first southern state to do away with capital punishment.