Virginia Democrat Abigail Spanberger launched her gubernatorial bid with a sharp ad rejecting “political nonsense,” promising to cut costs and unite voters.

Spanberger Opens Campaign With Sharp Rebuke of Partisan Politics

Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate in Virginia’s upcoming gubernatorial race, released her first campaign advertisement on Thursday, vowing to end political dysfunction and restore unity in public service. The former U.S. congresswoman is seeking to replace outgoing Governor Glenn Youngkin in the November election.

“Too many politicians talk when they should listen. And divide instead of unite. Enough is enough,” Spanberger declares in the ad. “Public service is too important for political nonsense.”

Drawing from her past in law enforcement and counterterrorism with the CIA, Spanberger emphasized a nonpartisan approach to governance. “When I was in law enforcement and then working counterterrorism at CIA, we didn’t do politics. We did our jobs,” she stated. She also highlighted her bipartisan track record, noting she was recognized as the most bipartisan member of Congress from Virginia.

In the ad, she outlines key priorities including lowering costs for Virginians, increasing household income retention, and improving the quality of the state’s education system. “As governor, I’ll work to lower costs, let people keep more of their money and make Virginia schools the best in the nation,” Spanberger affirmed.

Controversy Over Immigration and Financial Disclosure

Spanberger’s campaign has already drawn criticism from her Republican opponent, Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears. Earlier this month, Spanberger condemned an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid conducted at the Albemarle County Courthouse, which resulted in the arrest of two undocumented individuals. She described the incident as “shocking,” particularly because officers allegedly lacked clear identification and were dressed in plain clothes.

“What we’ve seen most shocking, including here in Charlottesville, has been cases where people haven’t provided identification and have been in some cases masked and in plain clothes,” she told a local outlet.

The Earle-Sears campaign seized on her remarks, suggesting they reveal a dangerous stance on law enforcement. “Abigail Spanberger’s outrage over criminal illegal immigrants being taken off our streets is everything Virginians need to know about what kind of governor she’d be—criminals first, victims last,” said a campaign spokesperson.

In addition, Earle-Sears has accused Spanberger of failing to include her role as a trustee in her congressional financial disclosure reports. The campaign labeled the omission a “calculated lie.” In response, Spanberger’s team clarified that the trust only contains her personal residence, which is not required to be disclosed under federal rules.

As the campaign gains momentum, Spanberger’s message appears focused on appealing to moderate and independent voters by emphasizing accountability, bipartisanship, and practical governance. With her first ad setting a firm tone, the race to succeed Youngkin is expected to be closely contested.