Winsome Earle-Sears, Abigail Spanberger will face off in key Virginia governor’s race
In what might be a key 2025 bellwether, Virginia’s race for governor can even make historical past, all however guaranteeing the Commonwealth’s first feminine governor. Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former congresswoman and CIA officer, will face Republican Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a Marine veteran, after each state events confirmed their nominees in current days.
One of many solely aggressive races of the 12 months, the Virginia gubernatorial contest will probably be intently watched by each events — and is usually handled as a referendum on the president’s occasion. Traditionally, Virginia has voted for a governor of the other political occasion, each time a brand new president has been elected since 1977.
The race is already breaking state data for fundraising, with Earle-Sears elevating greater than $3 million from January to March and Spanberger elevating round $6.7 million throughout the identical interval, in line with the campaigns.
In an interview with “America Decides,” Spanberger informed CBS Information she believes nationwide points will weigh closely on the race, from the Trump administration’s mass layoffs of federal workers, greater than 144,000 of whom reside in Virginia, in addition to what she referred to as an “antagonistic commerce conflict.”
“All of this impacts Virginia, and the stakes of this election replicate that,” stated Spanberger.
When requested whether or not Earle-Sears helps President Trump’s tariff coverage, her marketing campaign deflected however stated in an announcement, “After leftists like Joe Biden and Abigail Spanberger devastated our economic system and standing on this planet—President Trump is doing the work to place America first once more.”
Earle-Sears has attacked Spanberger for her votes in Congress supporting Biden administration insurance policies together with the Inflation Discount Act, which handed in 2022 with no Republican assist. Earle-Sears argues it has contributed to inflation.
“I feel it is a ridiculous assertion on condition that my opponent has been keen to say credit score for among the funding that got here by a few of these federal {dollars} to Virginia’s Commonwealth,” Spanberger informed CBS Information. “However, the truth is that my opponent is endeavoring to distract, as a result of she’s not speaking about the truth that we have seen an absolute tanking of the inventory market due to Donald Trump’s actions.”
Whereas the economic system is a high subject for Virginians and each candidates, advocates are additionally hoping gun security mobilizes voters.
Spanberger is about to obtain the endorsement of Everytown for Gun Security Thursday, the group first informed CBS Information. Everytown, established by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, can also be contributing $1 million to the race, which can embody organizing efforts and political adverts.
Spanberger herself grew to become a volunteer for pro-gun management group Mothers Demand Motion after leaving the CIA.
“Abigail Spanberger understands that common sense legal guidelines to maintain weapons out of harmful palms are essential to making sure public security,” John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Security, stated of the endorsement.
Everytown additionally factors to their success on the state legislative degree in 2023 when 9 gun security volunteers received races and helped flip the Home of Delegates, the decrease home of Virginia’s legislature, to Democratic management.
The group says inside polling from that 12 months revealed it is a high three subject for Virginia voters in battleground districts throughout Northern Virginia, Richmond and Hampton Roads.
Youngkin vetoed an assault weapons ban and different gun management payments that handed the state legislature final 12 months.
He did signal two different gun measures, together with one which bans auto sears, a tool that converts semi-automatic handguns into computerized weapons. He additionally signed “Lucia’s Legislation,” making it against the law for folks who enable youngsters deemed as threats to entry firearms.
Earle-Sears has supported the governor’s vetoes.
In 2021, Earle-Sears grew to become the primary Black lady ever elected to statewide workplace in Virginia. She should enchantment to moderates and unbiased voters within the blue-leaning state however has given blended messages on her assist for Mr. Trump in recent times.
In 2020, she co-chaired the group “Black Individuals to re-elect President Trump,” however in 2022, following the midterms, she informed FOX Enterprise it was “time to maneuver on.”
“A real chief understands once they have grow to be a legal responsibility,” she stated in the course of the interview. “A real chief understands when it is time to step off the stage.”
She went on to vote for Mr. Trump in 2024. A supply near the marketing campaign says she sees the president as a federal accomplice. It stays to be seen if Mr. Trump gives Earle-Sears an endorsement given the excessive stakes of this 12 months’s few marquee races.
Whereas Mr. Trump made inroads in Virginia in the course of the 2024 presidential election, the state comfortably went for Vice President Kamala Harris in November.
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who’s barred from serving back-to-back phrases, endorsed his Lt. Governor early within the race.
