Virginia is ground zero.
As one of only two states with elections in 2025, Virginia’s governor’s race is not just a contest of policies. It’s a proving ground for post-Trump America, a stress test for democracy, and potentially the last gasp of normalcy before things get even weirder. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger knows what’s at stake. Her campaign to become our 75th governor isn’t just about defeating her opponent, Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears. It’s about holding the line. Because the chaos coming from Washington isn’t abstract—it’s unprecedented, chaotic, and deeply personal to millions of Virginians.
In our conversation, Spanberger doesn’t sidestep the moment. She talks candidly about the fear, anxiety, and frustration she’s hearing on the campaign trail: retirees watching their savings spiral, local businesses paralyzed, scientists losing research grants, and federal workers demonized for political theatre while the real issues go unchallenged. She’s also not shy about calling out Governor Youngkin’s silence or Earle-Sears’ alignment with a federal agenda that feels increasingly unhinged.
With 2025 shaping up to be one of the most consequential elections in Virginia’s modern history, Spanberger is making a bet—that clarity beats chaos, public service still matters, and even in the post-truth political circus we’re all living through, Virginians will choose leadership over spectacle and substance over brand.
Congresswoman, how are you?
I’m doing ok. How’re you?
I’m good, thanks. And thanks for chatting with RVA Magazine again, congratulations on receiving the official nomination.
Thank you. Thank you.
To start with, I know this is a big question, but it’s on everyone’s mind. How do we make sense of this moment in America?
My immediate response to that is—it’s OK to say some elements of what’s happening right now, don’t make sense. There’s unprecedented decisions coming out of this White House. Unprecedented choices in terms of attacking the federal workforce. Or the catastrophically chaotic nature of running towards tariffs and then pulling back—but they’re actually still in place.
We make sense of this moment by grounding ourselves in where we want to go, in what’s acceptable—what’s not acceptable—and in understanding what good leadership and bad leadership looks like. And what’s within our sphere of influence to control as Virginians, voters, as citizens. We have to determine the path we want for ourselves, our communities, our Commonwealth and ultimately our country.
Funneling that question down to Virginia. Given how many federal workers live here, can we separate what we’re seeing nationally from what we’re feeling locally?
They’re totally related, of course, but there is a difference in the actions we get to take. Virginia and New Jersey are the only two states that have statewide elections in 2025. So here, at the local level, we have the ability to weigh in electorally. We get to have a say in what’s happening— and what we reject. That is ultimately a local issue.
This includes everything from the chaotic nature of a trade war that is going to impact Virginians at the grocery store, to our farmers. It also means recognizing that the president just put a stop to federal dollars that funds our research. Then there’s the federal workforce. The attack on them is a national issue, but the local issue is they are Virginians who have devoted themselves to serving their nation. Their neighbors are also small business owners—part of the larger economy—who are also feeling the brunt of this upheaval, which will have major impacts on their communities.
I’ve found the demonization of the federal workforce to be shocking. These are our friends, family, and colleagues.
It has been. That’s an element of the story I hear when I’m attending events. Whether someone is a federal employee or not there’s such a broad understanding in Virginia of what it means to be in service. We also have a significant veteran population, and they recognize the same intentionality that their federal employee counterparts exhibit—the same call to service. And what I’ve been hearing is how insulting and dismissive this is. There’s an implication that someone chooses public service because it’s their only option.
When in fact, being an attorney for Health and Human Services is a choice. These are individuals who had a myriad of options. Attorneys at the CIA spend their days ensuring that every engagement a CIA officer has complies with legal requirements. These are folks at the pinnacle of their career. And yet, they essentially make what a second-year associate in a big city would make. But that’s a choice, because it’s a privilege to serve. You believe in it.
The role of government is to address some of our greatest challenges—challenges that the private sector has no economic incentive to solve. So for that not to be recognized—or worse, to be vilified—is added insult to injury.
What are you hearing on the campaign trail? How are Virginians assessing this moment as you travel the Commonwealth?
Wherever I go, there’s a deep and pervasive worry and anxiety, which shifts slightly depending on where I am. Frankly, even over the last two weeks—with the ratcheting up of animosities against Canada—that became a centerpiece of discussion. Canada is a major trading partner for Virginia, particularly for our agricultural sector. Then a few days later, it’s ratcheting up economic hostilities with the entire world.
I’m hearing from retirees who live on their savings, and they’re worried that there won’t be enough time for their savings to recover. Then I was with a group of building trades folks who were talking about economic instability and what this means for future development. Especially when there’s this overall feeling of chaos and worry—do they pull back or will they continue to build large commercial infrastructure at scale?
And then there’s the landscape where people just want to talk about the basics, right? Their kids, education, and housing affordability.
That was going to be my next question.
It’s not like these things have gone away. They are still the central issues people care about, but now we’re on this roller coaster where there is constant confusion. And they just want it to be over.
Two of your signature issues are economic growth and affordability, which everyone is on board with. How do we optimize those opportunities in the age of Trump tariffs?
This becomes a question of what we expect out of our governor. When you come from a state like Virginia, where there are 320,000 federal employees—if there’s a reduction in the federal workforce, we lose billions of dollars in economic output.
How is it possible that we don’t have a governor ringing the alarm bells about what this means for our state? That’s actually what I’m hearing from most people. People recognize the uncertainty stemming from the cuts the administration is making. At a minimum, we need a governor who recognizes this—and even if they are aligned with this president, they need to defend Virginians.
It’s also important to remember that these cuts aren’t just about Northern Virginia or civilian Department of Defense contractors in Hampton Roads. It’s Department of Agriculture employees throughout the entire state. It’s veterans who can’t get an appointment to manage their care. So it’s the ripple effect, and it is really significant. Whether it’s government, business, or industry—everything is taking place in this landscape of chaos. And what I’m hearing most fundamentally is, ‘Why don’t we have a governor who recognizes how disruptive this is?’
It’s worth mentioning the governor said he believes these economic policies will help Virginians. So he’s doubling down on this narrative.
[Governor Youngkin] and my opponent [Earle-Sears] talk about creating all these jobs in Virginia. But if you’re a research scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and you’re on the forefront of curing a particular type of cancer or developing treatment to stave off dementia—where are you going to go? You made a choice early in your career to be an NIH research scientist. There are not large- scale grant programs at other research institutions that you can just shift into.
Or being funded by the private sector.
That’s right—because the commercial interest might not be there. I don’t say that begrudgingly towards industry. But the scope of what federal investment has meant for science and technology has changed the world, bit-by-bit.
There’s a set of polls indicating that 32 percent of voters are still undecided. As the race unfolds over the next six months, can you frame the choice between your candidacy and that of the Lieutenant Governor?
Absolutely. The choice is a stark one.
Do Virginians want a governor who will stand up for them and our economy in the face of unprecedented attacks out of the White House? Do they want a governor with a record of effectiveness—someone who can evaluate problems, develop fixes, and tackle challenges head-on? Do Virginians want a governor who will be steady, focused, and fearless in improving the issues facing our Commonwealth?
Do they want a governor who recognizes the very real challenges families are facing—where housing supply hasn’t kept pace with the market, and makes the dream of buying a home or finding an apartment they love feel out of reach? Do they want a governor who looks at what’s working—and makes it better?
I have that legislative history.
At this moment in time, when we see a president who wants to light the house on fire just to see what’s left standing—it’s incredibly important that Virginians understand: In 2025, our choice is between someone with a record of effectiveness and service to our communities, Commonwealth, and our country… or someone whose response to catastrophic firings of Virginians is “Don’t fret.”
To me, it’s a stark and clear choice. And those are just questions of approach—not policy. Do you want someone who wants to take money out of our public schools, and further restrict your voting or reproductive rights? Do Virginians want someone who’s going to make excuses about the realities of where we are?
Final question, which I have to ask because it’s RVA Mag. What’s good in your world right now— music, books, film and TV. What recommendations can you leave our readers?
I feel like I’m missing a strong moment by not watching White Lotus. But my favorite TV show at the moment is the new Matlock—and I’m loving it. And then, I’m reading multiple books at the same time. One of them is Recoding America by Jennifer Pahlka and Abundance by Ezra Kline and Derek Thompson.
My choices are a little frenetic.
Well these are frenetic times. Thanks again for chatting with us, Congresswoman. We hope to see you out there on the trail.
Thank you, and welcome back to Virginia.
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