Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is operating towards former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger within the race, and in both case, the winner will make historical past within the commonwealth as its first feminine governor. If Earle-Sears wins, she’ll grow to be the primary feminine Black governor.
AP
There is not any incumbent on this race — there by no means is, since Virginia governors could not run for consecutive phrases beneath state legislation.
Virginia’s gubernatorial election is commonly seen as a possible referendum on the incumbent president. The president’s social gathering typically loses the Virginia governor’s race, which all the time falls within the yr following a presidential election.
Spanberger has made it clear she’s operating towards Mr. Trump’s insurance policies through the marketing campaign, saying, “It’s due to the commerce wars and the retaliatory tariff insurance policies and the assault on Virginia, our financial system and our individuals, that we acknowledge the opportunity of November 4.”
The Trump administration’s broadsides towards the federal workforce hit Virginia onerous, for the reason that state has a whole bunch of 1000’s of civilian federal workers and contractors. Apart from the reduction-in-force cuts by the administration, federal employees are taking an financial hit within the authorities shutdown that is now stretching into its second month.
Earle-Sears has centered on immigration and transgender points, and of their October debate, she pressed Spanberger on whether or not she’d preserve transgender youth out of ladies’ highschool sports activities and loos.
In the course of the marketing campaign, Earle-Sears has campaigned alongside Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, however she was not endorsed by President Trump. Mr. Trump appeared in a telerally on Monday evening for the Republican ticket, attacking Spanberger and inspiring individuals to vote for Republicans, however he did not point out Earle-Sears by identify.
