Abigail Spanberger Archives - The Virginia Star

Poll Shows Majority of Virginians Still Positive on Youngkin’s Job as Governor, but Voters May Elect Democrat in 2025

January 17, 2025January 17, 2025 Tom Pappert

Polling released on Thursday shows the majority of Virginians continue to hold a positive view of the performance by Glenn Youngkin as Governor of Virginia, though suggested voters may nonetheless vote for a Democrat to succeed him when casting ballots in November.

The survey, released by Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center for Civic Leadership and conducted between January 6-13, found 53 percent of Virginia voters continue to approve of Youngkin’s performance as governor, including 87 percent of Republicans, 54 percent of independents, and 19 percent of the commonwealth’s Democratic voters.

AFP Virginia Director Gives Winsome Earle-Sears ‘Fighting Chance’ to Beat Abigail Spanberger amid Tight Polls

January 10, 2025January 10, 2025 Tom Pappert

Tim Parrish, the state director of Americans for Prosperity (AFP) – Virginia, predicted that Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears has a “fighting chance” to beat either former Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) or Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) in the 2025 race for governor as polls show the Republican statistically tied with both candidates.

Parrish made the remarks during a Friday appearance on “The John Fredericks Show,” offering his analysis after The Virginia Star publisher John Fredericks suggested Earle-Sears has slim odds of repeating the 2021 victory that saw Governor Glenn Youngkin become the first Republican elected governor of Virginia since 2010.

Poll Finds Virginia Governor’s Race Between Spanberger, Earle-Sears Tied as Republicans Seek to Retain Control Post-Youngkin

January 9, 2025January 9, 2025 Tom Pappert

Former U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears are statistically tied in the race to become the next Governor of Virginia, according to polling released Thursday.

The Emerson College poll of Virginia voters found Spanberger narrowly leading with the support of 42 percent of the commonwealth, but Earle-Sears statistically tied at 41 percent of support, with the pollsters reporting a margin of error of 3 percent.

Anti-Trump Republican Denver Riggleman Considers Campaign for Virginia Governor

January 2, 2025 Tom Pappert

Former U.S. Representative Denver Riggleman, the former Republican congressman who considered voting for President Joe Biden in 2020, and served under the House January 6 committee after he left Congress in 2021.

Virginia U.S. Rep. Spanberger Says Tulsi Gabbard ‘Dangerous’ as Trump’s Pick for Director of National Intelligence

December 31, 2024December 31, 2024 Tom Pappert

Outgoing U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), who is leaving Congress to pursue the Democratic Party’s nomination for Governor of Virginia, said it was “dangerous” for President-elect Donald Trump to nominate Tulsi Gabbard to serve as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in an interview with ABC 7 News published Tuesday.

Spanberger, who formerly worked as a federal agent for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and a case officer for the CIA, made the remarks about Gabbard when asked about those nominated by Trump to serve in key intelligence positions during his second term in the White House.

Former Virginia Governor Claims Lack of Democrat ‘Solidarity’ Could Lead to Republican Governor in 2025

December 23, 2024 Tom Pappert

Former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder cautioned Democrats in the commonwealth against a tumultuous primary, arguing it was a lack of Democratic solidarity preceded the 2021 election of Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Virginia A.G. Jason Miyares Seeks Reelection, Leaving Governor Race to Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Rep. Abigail Spanberger

November 18, 2024November 18, 2024 Tom Pappert

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares on Monday announced he will seek reelection, officially ending speculation he would launch a gubernatorial bid in an effort to maintain Republican control over the Executive Mansion, as Governor Glenn Youngkin is prevented from seeking a second consecutive term by the Virginia Constitution.

Miyares announced his reelection bid in a post to the social media platform X, where he wrote, “We are not going back to the failed policies of the past; our families’ safety and Virginia’s future depends on it.”

Virginia Poll Shows Tied Gubernatorial Race, Nearly Tied Presidential Race

September 27, 2024September 27, 2024 The Center Square

Virginia’s current political contests could hardly be closer, according to the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies Fall 2024 poll.

A little over a year out, the poll showed Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-07, and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the leading candidates for the commonwealth’s 2025 gubernatorial race, in a dead heat. When respondents were asked who they would vote for between the two “if the election were held today,” 39% indicated Spanberger, and 39% indicated Earle-Sears. Twelve percent didn’t know who they’d vote for.

Conservative Group Spends $2.3 Million to Flip Virginia U.S. House Seat Sought by Democrat Involved with Trump Impeachment

September 4, 2024September 3, 2024 Tom Pappert

A Tuesday report revealed an influential conservative political fund has spent $2.3 million to flip Virginia’s 7th Congressional District in November. Republicans are trying to help Derrick Anderson secure a victory against Eugene Vindman, who featured prominently in the first impeachment of former President Donald Trump.

Anderson will benefit from $2.3 million in spending from the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), which exists to elect Republicans to the U.S. House, according to a Tuesday report by Punchbowl News.

Virginia Democrat Who Sparked First Trump Impeachment Faces FEC Complaint over Response to ‘Stolen Valor’ Question

August 24, 2024August 23, 2024 Tom Pappert

Retired Army Col. Yevegny “Eugene” Vindman, the Democrat nominee for Virginia’s 7th Congressional district, on Thursday was confirmed to be the recipient of a Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaint over an alleged improper contribution from a political organization that supports his candidacy.

Vindman’s twin brother Alexander is the man who overheard the phone call between former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that led to the first attempt to impeach Trump. Vindman reportedly took the information about the call from his brother and made a report to White House lawyers.

Virginia Republicans, Democrats Divided over Trump Verdict

June 1, 2024May 31, 2024 The Center Square

The jury announced its verdict in former President Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial Thursday evening, and social media was set ablaze.

Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records that could have been harmful to his 2016 presidential campaign.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney Drops Gubernatorial Bid, Runs for Lt. Governor as Virginia Democrats Rallying Around Aaron Rouse

April 24, 2024April 23, 2024 Tom Pappert

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney on Tuesday officially ended his gubernatorial campaign, instead declaring he will seek the Democratic Party’s nomination to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor.

Stoney will no longer challenge Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) to become Virginia’s next Democratic candidate for governor, and switched races on the same day State Senator Aaron Rouse (D-Virginia Beach) announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor.

Analysis: Democratic Retirements Could Help the House GOP Grow Its Majority in 2024

December 3, 2023December 2, 2023 Virginia Star Staff

House Republicans appear to be in a better position to capitalize off of a wave of congressional retirements, as there are more Democratic-held open seats in swing districts that pose an opportunity for the GOP to flip in 2024.

There are currently 31 House members who are not seeking another term in the lower chamber, including 20 Democrats and 11 Republicans — nearly all of whom hold seats that are considered safe for the GOP. Four Democratic-held open seats in battleground districts in Michigan, Virginia and California are most likely to flip red, while several other seats are also up for grabs by the GOP in 2024, according to political analysts and electoral rankings.

No Current Republican Frontrunners for 2025’s Virginia Gubernatorial Contest

November 26, 2023November 25, 2023 The Center Square

With an early declaration from Democrat Rep. Abigail Spanberger that she will be running for governor in 2025 and Virginia’s one-term policy preventing Gov. Glenn Youngkin from running consecutively, Republicans can only speculate who their candidates will be.

Spanberger has said she declared early due to next year’s congressional races in which her seat will be reelected. She wanted to give interested parties time to prepare a strong campaign to keep District 7 blue.

Virginia Reps Introduce Bill That Could Have College Savings Plans Applied to Certifications, Workforce Training

July 8, 2023July 7, 2023 The Center Square

Virginia Reps. Abigail Spanberger and Rob Wittman are leading a bipartisan effort to diversify how college savings accounts can be used.

The Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act would increase the number of eligible expenses for 529 savings accounts. Like Roth IRAs, 529 plans are investment accounts allowing individuals to use their after-tax contributions to pay for educational expenses. The earnings from the plans generally aren’t subject to federal or state income tax when used for qualified expenses.

Republican Field in VA-7 Primary Is a Crowded One

February 17, 2022February 16, 2022 Aaron Gulbransen

The Republican field in the race to challenge incumbent U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger for Virginia’s 7th Congressional seat is a crowded one.

Former Green Beret Derrick Anderson, State Senator Bryce Reeves (R-Spotsylvania-SD17), Spotsylvania County Supervisor David Ross, Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chair Crystal Vanuch, Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega, teacher Gina Ciarcia, and Gary Adkins are among the candidates running in the Republican primary.

Virginia Supreme Court Approves Final Congressional and Legislative Districts

December 30, 2021December 29, 2021 Cooper Moran

The Virginia Supreme Court on Tuesday approved the final version of congressional and legislative maps that will enact political boundaries for the next decade.

The process allowed for the judicial branch to determine the districts after the Virginia Redistricting Commission failed to produce any maps.

Virginia Supreme Court Redistricting Map Drafts Shake Up Incumbents

December 10, 2021December 9, 2021 Eric Burk

The Virginia Supreme Court’s Special Masters released their first redistricting map proposals Tuesday, receiving mixed reactions over what will be a major shakeup for Virginia incumbents if final drafts are similar to the proposals.

The Court chose Republican-nominated Sean Trende and Democratic-nominated Bernard Grofman to draw the maps.

“These maps reflect a true joint effort on our part. We agreed on almost all issues initially, and the few issues on which we initially disagreed were resolved by amicable discussion,” the Special Masters wrote in a memo. “[W]e took seriously the Court’s command that, although we were nominated by the political parties, we would behave in ‘an apolitical and nonpartisan manner.’ Our duty is owed not to the parties that nominated us, but rather to the Court that appointed us and to the residents of the Commonwealth that it serves.”

State Senator Bryce Reeves, John Castorani, and Derrick Anderson Announce Candidacies for the Seventh District

November 1, 2021October 31, 2021 Matthew Hall

Three additional candidates announced their run for Congress in the recently, and all of them are military veterans. Former Alabama congressional candidate John Castorani, newcomer Derrick Anderson, and State Senator Bryce Reeves (R-Spotsylvania) each announced their runs for the 7th Congressional District seat against incumbent Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07).

John Castorani is a former Army special operations soldier. Castorani deployed multiple times to the Middle East, where he worked in Army intelligence. Castorani continued his service as an intelligence officer after his military career. On his campaign site, he lists his support for border security, the sanctity of human life, and gun rights as his priorities.

Virginia Representative Spanberger Calls for New Leadership, Does Not Vote for Pelosi as Speaker

January 5, 2021January 4, 2021 Eric Burk

Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) was one of just five House of Representative Democrats who did not vote for Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12) to continue as Speaker of the House in the 117th Congress.

“In a time marked by historically low trust in our government, new voices are necessary to moving forward and achieving real progress,” Spanberger said in a press release. “Last Congress, I kept my promise to vote for new leadership upon my swearing-in – and in this Congress, I remain consistent in my commitment to ushering in new leadership. Accordingly, I did not vote for Speaker Pelosi.”

Virginia Representative Spanberger Calls for New Leadership, Does Not Vote for Pelosi as Speaker

January 5, 2021 Eric Burk

Avowed Socialist Lee Carter Mulls Run for Governor

November 19, 2020November 18, 2020 Eric Burk

Delegate Lee Carter (D-Manassas) isn’t shy about his liberal ideologies. “Ask me about Socialism,” his Twitter bio states. The former Marine hinted that he’s considering a run for Governor in 2021 in a recent Twitter comment. If he does run, he will be a hard-core leftist running in a primary packed with other Democrats, likely including former Governor Terry McAuliffe, Senator Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond), Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, and Delegate Jennifer Carrol Foy (D-Prince William).

Chase, Chesterfield GOP Allege Serious Irregularities in Provisional Vote-Counting

November 12, 2020November 11, 2020 Eric Burk

The Chesterfield GOP and Senator Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield) have filed a court complaint alleging that the Chesterfield Registrar Constance Hargrove prevented a Republican representative from being present at a Friday meeting to evaluate provisional ballots. However, in a Tuesday hearing, Chesterfield Circuit Court Judge David Johnson dismissed the complaint, stating that he has no legal authority in the case, since it involves elected officials, according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Spanberger and Freitas Square Off in Debate on COVID, Health Care and National Security

October 21, 2020October 20, 2020 Jacob Taylor

Incumbent Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Republican challenger state Del. Nick Freitas (R-Culpeper) took part in their first debate Tuesday night, discussing a wide array of ongoing issues on the national and state levels.

The forum was moderated by Washington Week Managing Editor and a national political reporter for The Washington Post, Robert Costa, lasting a little less than an hour.

President of Club for Growth David McIntosh Weighs in on the Race Between Nick Freitas and the Deceit of His Opponent Abigail Spanberger

October 10, 2020October 9, 2020 Julie Carr

Friday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host Fredricks welcomed President of Club for Growth David McIntosh to the show to discuss the race in Virginia’s Seventh District between Nick Freitas and Abigail Spanberger.

Never-Trump PAC Gave $2 Million to Biden in Virginia

October 8, 2020October 8, 2020 Eric Burk

Anti-Trump conservative political action committee Defending Democracy Together (DDT) has given over $2 million to the Biden campaign in Virginia, placing them second-highest on a list of outside spending in Virginia.

“They’re just another bunch of loser never-Republicans frozen out of the greatest movement in America,” said Trump Virginia Delegation Chairman John Fredericks. “They want their old Republican party back.”

Pence Stumps Virginia: ‘It’s a Battleground State’

September 28, 2020September 27, 2020 Corinne Murdock

Donald Trump’s Senior Campaign Advisor John Pence, nephew to Vice President Mike Pence, visited Virginia last Saturday for two events encouraging citizens to vote.
The “Get Out and Vote” trail made stops in Amelia County and Fluvanna County, following President Trump’s Friday night rally in Newport News.

State Delegate Nick Freitas Is Ready to Win Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District

September 17, 2020September 17, 2020 Jacob Taylor

At a small rally on the lawn of a local courthouse, Del. Nicholas Freitas (R-Culpeper County) exuded confidence in his ability to win Virginia’s seventh congressional district and reclaim the seat for Republicans.

Freitas is squaring up against incumbent Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), who recently became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019.

Dave Brat’s Democratic Challenger Apologizes After Threatening Message Left On His Doorstep

October 2, 2018October 2, 2018 Admin

by Evie Fordham Virginia Republican Rep. Dave Brat’s Democratic challenger apologized Monday after her canvassers reportedly wrote “Rot in hell Dave” on a Spanberger flier and left it on Brat’s door this past weekend. Four high school students who were volunteer canvassers for Democrat Abigail Spanberger were responsible, her…