Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears sparred frequently and bitterly Thursday during their only debate of this fall’s Virginia governor’s race — and much of it wasn’t even about the two candidates onstage.
Earle-Sears often interrupted the moderators and Spanberger to confront Spanberger directly, often looking at her and calling her by her first name.
And then you would say he needs to get out of the race, Abigail?
Well, as governor, you have to make hard choices, and that means telling Jay Jones to leave the race.”
Throughout the race, Spanberger has maintained substantial advantages over Earle-Sears in polling and fundraising.
At their only debate of the Virginia gubernatorial contest this fall, Republican Winsome Earle-Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger engaged in frequent and acrimonious sparring Thursday. Much of the debate wasn’t even about the two candidates onstage.
Instead, the hour-long debate at Norfolk State University focused mostly on Virginia’s Democratic attorney general candidate, Jay Jones, during which the moderators repeatedly urged Earle-Sears to avoid talking over her opponent.
Bipartisan condemnation and calls for Jones to withdraw from the race were sparked last week by texts from 2022 that surfaced proposing that one of the state’s leading legislative Republicans be shot in the head.
Former congresswoman Spanberger, who has denounced the texts but refrained from urging Jones to resign, repeatedly refused to say Thursday night if she still supported him.
Almost instantly, the fireworks began when state lieutenant governor Earle-Sears punted and attempted to direct the conversation toward Jones while answering a question regarding the state’s car tax.
“When are you going to take Jay Jones and tell him, ‘You have to quit the race,’ Abigail? He has stated that he wants to kill his political rival and not only that, but also his rival’s kids,” Earle-Sears said.
Moderators’ initial question to Spanberger also focused on the subject: Did she continue to support Jones and was she aware of the texts prior to their public release?
Jones’ texts were described as “absolutely abhorrent” by Spanberger, who also stated that she “will denounce them at every opportunity” and that it is “important that candidates always denounce violence, no matter which side of the aisle.”. “.”.
When Spanberger accused Earle-Sears of calling her “as your enemy” on a regular basis, Earle-Sears interrupted, saying, “Don’t lie like that, Abigail. “.”.
“Now that the voters have the information, it is their responsibility to make a personal decision based on this information,” Spanberger stated. Under pressure from the moderators, Spanberger reiterated, “At this time, it is up to each voter to make their own personal choice. “”.
Throughout the evening, the subject kept coming up. Frequently interrupting the moderators and Spanberger, Earle-Sears addressed Spanberger directly, frequently addressing her by her first name and glancing at her.
At one point, Earle-Sears remarked, “I’m wondering why my opponent won’t say other than it’s abhorrent and disgusting, why she won’t say it is not OK and that he must leave the race because Jay Jones advocated the murder, Abigail, the murder of a man.”. “Are you saying that he should withdraw from the race, Abigail? You have nothing to say?” “Would it take him pulling the trigger? Is that what would do it?”.
A moment later, Earle-Sears added, “Prove yourself politically.”. “What you have done is make political calculations regarding your chances of becoming governor in the future. You have to make tough decisions as governor, and telling Jay Jones to withdraw from the race is one of them. “.
Spanberger never directly addressed Earle-Sears on the matter.
In polling and fundraising, Spanberger has consistently outperformed Earle-Sears throughout the contest. However, the release of the Jones texts, which heightened already heightened feelings regarding political violence, dealt a surprise blow to the race’s home stretch. This is one of the first significant statewide contests since the presidential election last year. Additionally, Thursday’s debate was probably one of Earle-Sears’ final chances to make progress, as Virginia had already begun early voting.
At other points, Earle-Sears attacked Spanberger for her views on transgender people’s use of public restrooms and school locker rooms, as well as their involvement in youth sports. This was a major component of her campaign’s final message.
Spanberger was questioned by moderators on whether “transgender girls who are biological males [should] be allowed to use girls bathrooms and play on girls sports teams in K-12” schools. These culture war issues became a prominent point of contention during the 2024 presidential cycle.
“It’s important that we have parents and teachers and administrators making decisions about their individual schools, not politicians,” Spanberger reaffirmed, echoing a statement she has used throughout her campaign. “”.
In response to repeated questions from moderators, Spanberger stated, “Nude men should never be in [girls’] locker rooms.”. “.”.
Aside from the issues of education, immigration, and reproductive rights, the candidates’ debates about the federal government shutdown also caused fireworks.
When asked if she would, in her capacity as governor, order President Donald Trump to use his authority to cooperate with Democrats in order to reopen the government, Earle-Sears charged that Spanberger was using Trump’s firing of federal employees this year through his Department of Government Efficiency as a “political football.”. (Spanberger has attempted to blame Earle-Sears for the federal government shutdown by tying it to Trump’s federal workforce cuts, which disproportionately affected Virginia. ).
Earle-Sears accused Spanberger of “trying to say that she loves federal workers more than anyone else” before calling on Spanberger to convince Virginia’s two Democratic senators to “go back, do your job and vote” in favor of reopening the government.
“I would encourage everyone, our Democratic senators, our Democratic House members, and our Republican House members to work together,” Spanberger retorted. “.”.
In yet another explosive moment regarding same-sex marriage, which Earle-Sears has stated she is “morally opposed to,” Spanberger stated that Earle-Sears “has previously stated that she does not think that gay couples should be allowed to marry.”. “.”.
When Earle-Sears interrupted, he said, “That isn’t discrimination at all. “”.
