US EditionThe Shutdown Shakes up Politics in Virginia, Home to More than 300,000 Federal Workers
Democrats focus on economic development and affordability while Republicans emphasize culture war issues to mobilize voters in Virginia's key off-year election, polls show Spanberger leading.
- Representative Abigail Spanberger is framing the campaign around affordability and rising prices, while Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears emphasizes culture war issues and Spanberger aims to make the race about Donald Trump.
- A looming federal shutdown has heightened anxiety in Virginia's federal-heavy regions, where more than 300,000 federal workers live and the White House's budget office warned last week of possible layoffs.
- Polls and early-vote figures indicate tightening margins and energized GOP turnout, with the A2 Insights survey showing Ms. Spanberger ahead 47.7% to 44.6% and 6.4% undecided.
- As one of just two statewide contests, Virginia will be an early test of messages voters will hear in next year’s midterm elections, and Representative Abigail Spanberger is trying to make the contest a referendum on Trump.
- The race's dynamics are unusual because the GOP nominee is Black and both sides must court that roughly 16 percent bloc, while Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s 2021 win at 50.58% to 48.64% highlights Virginia’s off-year election history.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Virginia Dems rush to support federal workers during government shutdown
Virginia’s hundreds of thousands of federal employees entered their second day of the government shutdown on Thursday as Republicans in Washington hold firm on their refusal to pass a spending bill that keeps health care affordable for millions of Americans and the Trump administration threatens to fire even more government workers.
The shutdown shakes up politics in Virginia, home to more than 300,000 federal workers
By Eric Bradner, Eva McKend, CNN Chantilly, Virginia (CNN) — The federal government shutdown — and the escalating battle over which party bears the most blame — has injected a major new question mark into the governor’s race in Virginia, home to hundreds of thousands of federal workers. Early voting is already underway in the race between Democratic former Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. Along with the New Je…
Virginia Governor’s Race Preview
As one of just two states holding statewide elections this fall, Virginia will be an early test of the messages voters will hear in next year’s midterm elections. So far, Virginia Republicans, led by Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears at the top of the ticket for Governor, are leaning hard into the culture war issues that helped return Donald Trump to the White House. Democrats, led by Representative Abigail Spanberger, are running on the e…
Spanberger sees affordability as central issue in Virginia governor’s race
Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) is leaning heavily into economic issues in her campaign for governor as Democrats seek a winning blueprint going into next year’s midterm elections. Spanberger has an advantage going into the off-year election, with most polls showing her leading Lt. Gov. Winsome Earl-Sears (R) by six to 12 points. As a…
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