Heated Debate Transpires in Virginia Governor’s Race
By: Rylee Lyons
The Virginia governor’s race has recently gained attention from most Virginians, and it has also become a political interest for citizens all over the country as well. It has become the most important and recognized current gubernatorial election in the U.S. Democratic nominee, Abigail Spanberger, faced Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears in a heated debate on Thursday, October 9th, and was perceived to be a pivotal moment in the election. Both candidates took firm stances on controversial issues, including trans issues in school, abortion access, and recent controversy surrounding Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones. Abigail Spanberger (D) is a former U.S Representative of Virginia’s 7th congressional district, as well as a former CIA officer. She is focusing her campaign on issues such as affordability, strong public education, public safety, and accessible healthcare and reproductive freedom for Virginians. She has been recognized as one of the most bipartisan members of congress and has held bipartisanship as one of her core values throughout the race. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) is the current lieutenant Governor of Virginia, elected in 2021 alongside Governor Glenn Youngkin. She has based her campaign on issues such as lowering taxes and increasing freedom, curriculum changes, & parental involvement within public education. Some of the key takeaways from the Thursday night debate include the candidates’ stances being made clear on issues like abortion rights, environmental policy, and public education. Discourse has been focused more on their denouncements of comments made by members of their own parties. However, much of the discourse following the debate has stemmed from the nominees’ denouncements of comments made by members of their own parties. Spanberger was asked by Earle-Sears to comment on the recent controversial text messages made by Jay Jones. Earle-Sears brought up the issue, saying she wondered “why she won’t say it is not okay and that he must leave the race?” She pressed her opponent to answer, resulting in one of the more pivotal moments of the debate: “Abigail, you have nothing to say?” She didn’t, until later on in the debate she said, “The comments that Jay Jones made are absolutely abhorrent. I denounced them when I learned of them, and I will denounce them every opportunity I get.”
Spanberger did not solidify a response on whether or not she still endorses Jones, but under Virginia law, it would be difficult for Jones to drop out of the race at this point without Democrats having to surrender the election entirely. Earle-Sears was no stranger to controversial moments in the debate either. She made a comment about same-sex marriage, saying that she opposed workplace protections that surround members of the LGBTQ+ community. When Spanberger pressed on this issue, saying that her opponent thinks it is okay for people to be fired from their job for being openly gay, Earle-Sears replied, “That’s not discrimination.”
While this high-stakes governor’s race has been considered relatively close, Spanberger seems to be holding a clear lead in most polls. Many credit strong opinions on the nominees to the pivotal moments during the debate, meaning high voter turnout is expected from Virginians on election day (Tuesday, November 4th). Regardless of the outcome of this election, history is being made as Virginia will elect its first female governor.
