Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for governor in Virginia, stated on Friday that she will not collaborate with President Donald Trump to generate jobs in the state.
During an interview with PBS News Hour, Spanberger characterized Trump as “not the right person” to revitalize Virginia’s economy, pointing to his alleged “attacks on federal employees.” Many federal workers have faced paycheck issues due to a government shutdown initiated by Democrats on October 1st.
When asked if she would work with Trump on job creation, Spanberger expressed skepticism, saying, “I don’t think I would cooperate with an arsonist who burns down a house in order to rebuild it.” She added that the individuals responsible for these attacks are not the ones to help bolster the economy.
Her competitor, Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earl Sears, criticized Spanberger, asserting that her “hatred of Trump” overshadows her concern for Virginians. Sears mentioned on X that Spanberger’s feelings make her unsuitable for public office.
Spanberger also faced scrutiny for not denouncing Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones, whose leaked messages revealed dark fantasies about the former Republican House speaker and his children. After these messages came to light, Trump described Spanberger as “weak and powerless,” calling for silence regarding Jones.
During an appearance on “Katie Couric’s Next Question” on October 22, Spanberger expressed frustration at having to address Jones’ comments. While she did not clearly state her position on whether biological males should use women’s restrooms, she has a voting history that generally supports this idea.
Spanberger has endorsed the Equality Act, which seeks to modify federal civil rights law to include sexual orientation and gender identity among protected classes. Conversely, she opposed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, aimed at preventing men from competing in women’s sports.
As the election approaches, polls indicate that Spanberger is ahead of Earl Sears by an average of 7.4 percentage points.
