Virginia Governor’s Race Enters Final Stretch as Trump-Era Policies Dominate Debate
RICHMOND, VA – Early voting has begun in the closely watched virginia governor’s race, with Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger focusing heavily on policies enacted during the Trump governance as they make their final appeals to voters. the election, set to conclude on November 5th, is widely considered a bellwether for national political trends heading into the 2024 presidential election.
The race has become a referendum on issues ranging from immigration to economic policy, with both candidates attempting to define themselves in relation to the legacy of former President Donald Trump.Earle-Sears has embraced some of Trump’s policies, emphasizing economic growth and a tough stance on border security, while Spanberger has positioned herself as a moderate Democrat seeking to appeal to autonomous voters concerned about the direction of the country.
During a rally Friday, Earle-Sears touted job creation, stating, “If they want a job, we have a job. We’re continuing to create jobs.” She also sharply criticized Spanberger’s position on immigration, specifically her pledge to reverse aspects of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s executive order regarding collaboration between Virginia authorities and federal immigration agents. Spanberger has vowed to roll back certain collaborative efforts.
The campaign is unfolding against a backdrop of heightened security concerns following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a college campus debate in Utah less than two weeks ago. The incident has sparked fears of political violence and prompted increased security measures at campaign events. A source within the Earle-Sears campaign confirmed heightened security at Friday’s rally.
Spanberger condemned Kirk’s death, calling it “absolutely horrifying.” She emphasized the importance of protecting First Amendment rights, stating, “The fact that a man engaged in a First Amendment debate…was gunned down in broad daylight as of his political activism is an atrocious reality that everyone should denounce.” earle-Sears also denounced the attack, saying in a video on X, “Just because he was using his First Amendment rights, he was gunned down.”
Fin Daniel Gómez is CBS News’ political director and executive director, Politics and White House. In this role, Gómez oversees the daily White House and political coverage for CBS News and works closely with Washington bureau leadership to inform the Network’s political coverage.
