Who Is the Real Abigail Spanberger? Winsome Earle-Sears’ Campaign Says It Knows

As Virginia’s gubernatorial race presses on, Republican nominee Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears continues to try to define her opponent, Democrat nominee Abigail Spanberger. The Earle-Sears campaign released two ads Wednesday that aim to reveal what it considers is Spanberger’s true identity.

In one of the ads, titled “Forward,” the Republican candidate and Marine Corps veteran warned Virginians that Spanberger’s policies were closely aligned with the leftward leanings of the Democratic Party: “Four years ago, we rejected career politicians and sent a message: Move Virginia forward. But Abigail Spanberger is a Washington insider who voted with [former House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi and [President Joe] Biden every single time.”

On Wednesday, Spanberger touted her law-and-order credentials after she received an endorsement from the Virginia Police Benevolent Association, the largest organization representing police officers in Virginia.

“Virginians deserve a governor who recognizes the tremendous sacrifice that comes with swearing an oath to protect and serve our neighbors—and as governor, I will always make sure our brave men and women in blue have the tools, resources, and training they need to do their jobs and keep us safe,” Spanberger said in a post on X.

In another ad, titled “Spanberger is Hiding,” the Earle-Sears campaign argues that Spanberger is not the centrist she claims to be. The ad features footage of the former CIA officer refusing to answer questions during her campaign regarding her views on males who identify as females playing in female-only sports.

The ad shows that prior to her gubernatorial campaign, Spanberger called herself a “progressive” and supported legislation, such as the Equality Act, that would effectively abolish federal Title IX law by allowing males into spaces designated for females.

“Abigail Spanberger voted to force girls to share their locker rooms with biological males as a member of Congress,” Peyton Vogel, Earle-Sears’ press secretary, said in a press release. “Will she do the same if she is elected governor? Virginia parents have a right to know if their daughters will be safe.”

This week, Earle-Sears’ campaign accepted a debate offer from CNN and one from Nexstar, the largest television station owner in the United States that also owns NewsNation and other channels. The Nexstar debate is being hosted by Norfolk State University, a historically black university. Spanberger’s campaign declined CNN’s debate offer and has yet to respond to Nexstar’s invitation. 

“Abigail Spanberger turning down a CNN debate is beyond absurd. It’s proof she’s terrified of facing voters in an unscripted setting,” Vogel said in a press release. “She hasn’t stepped on a debate stage since she first ran for office in 2018.”

Vogel continued: “In 2022, she infamously pulled out [of a debate] at the last minute. Now she’s running from CNN, one of the friendliest stages she could ask for. If she’s too afraid to show up there, what’s she hiding from? She can either step on that stage with Winsome Earle-Sears and defend her record or admit to Virginians that she can’t.”

With its latest ads, Earle-Sears’ campaign is not just challenging Spanberger’s policies, it’s also questioning her persona.

The Daily Signal reached out to both campaigns but has not received comment as of publication time.

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