Virginia’s gubernatorial election is set to take place Nov. 5. Current governor, Glenn Youngkin, is ineligible to run for a second term, because the Virginia Constitution prohibits consecutive terms.
Only one candidate managed to qualify for each major party; and they’re both women. This almost certainly guarantees that Virginia will soon elect its first ever female governor. For the Democrats, former congresswoman and CIA officer Abigail Spanberger is the nominee. For the Republicans, it’s Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a Marine Corps veteran. If Earle-Sears is elected, she will be the first ever Black female governor nationwide.
But what are these candidates’ positions? What do they seek to bring to the state of Virginia as governor? Here’s a breakdown.
Abigail Spanberger (D):
Starting with Virginia’s economy, Spanberger seeks to lower costs for Democrats and Republicans alike. By focusing on expanding and funding workforce development programs and colleges/universities, she hopes to raise a confident and capable workforce. She also vows to lower costs for higher education and increase funding for Virginia public schools.
Additionally, she wants to lower costs for childcare and small businesses. By focusing on long-term sustainable energy, Spanberger hopes to lower energy bills and housing costs. In relation, she supports the transition to cleaner energy to alleviate environmental pressure.
In terms of healthcare, Spanberger promises to help lower prescription drug costs. She supports fighting against dismantling the Affordable Care Act and protecting funding cuts with Medicare and Medicaid.
To combat the fentanyl crisis, Spanberger believes it’s not only important to crack down its spread and drug trafficking, but to give assistance to those affected by opioid addiction. She believes the two issues are interconnected and can only be alleviated by focusing on both.
For gun violence, Spanberger believes in increased regulation to decrease gun-related fatalities. She is an advocate for closing background check loopholes, the fight against “ghost guns” (firearms without serial numbers, put together by individually purchased parts), raising the age to buy certain assault-style weapons to 21 and enacting stricter safe storage laws. She wants Virginia to begin moving towards a ban on the manufacturing, sale and use of assault-style weapons to combat school shootings.
Spanberger believes in a woman’s right to choose, access to contraception and the availability of IVF. She also seeks to lower maternal mortality rates, as the US has the highest of any high income, developed country.
She supports same-sex and interracial marriage, fights against any kind of discrimination and vows to keep ballot boxes open and convenient, especially in the face of many states taking steps to make it more difficult to vote.
Focusing on improving the lives of the many rural Virginians, Spanberger, as the only Virginian on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, vows to improve farmers’ productivity. She affirms the importance of improving telehealth for rural citizens, to combat the poor availability of healthcare in rural areas. Additionally, she is focusing on creating bipartisan legislation to ensure all Virginians have access to high-speed internet.
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R):
Unlike Spanberger, Sears’ website does not include a “values” or platform page. So, these are observations based on what she has said or supported/opposed in the past.
On the topic of abortion and reproductive freedom, Sears has been pretty unclear. At one point, she declined to indicate whether she thought it should be legal, but has come out after Roe v. Wade that she would support a 15 week abortion ban. However, she affirmed her support of exceptions for rape, incest and when the mother’s life is at risk.
Sears has supported the legalization of medical marijuana. However, she does not support legalizing cannabis for recreational use.
While Sears affirms the importance, especially as a Black woman, of teaching the good and bad of American history, she opposes Critical Race Theory, aligning with the common Republican viewpoint on the issue.
She called CRT “racist” for depicting people as colonizers and racists from the moment they’re born, stating it lowers morale. She supports the teaching of African American history year-round, not only in Black History Month.
Also relating to education, Sears has supported an increased opening of charter schools, lab schools and virtual schools statewide.
Unlike Spanberger, Sears opposes same-sex marriage, stemming from her strong Christian faith. She has announced her support of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as only being legal between a woman and a man. However, Sears still does support civil unions.
As a veteran, Sears is a strong supporter of gun rights. She said that instead of infringing upon second amendment rights, the government should focus on enforcing existing laws. She opposes legislation against “ghost guns” and the sale of assault weapons, unlike Spanberger.
Because all of these platforms have been accumulated from interviews, statements, etc., it may be a problem that Sears hasn’t clearly defined her positions on her website, unlike Spanberger who has clear goals and platforms listed on her campaign site.
Virginia citizens will see how this election unfolds this November. To register to vote in the gubernatorial election, the deadline is 22 days before Election Day. However, voters may register through Voting Day and vote using a provisional ballot.
