Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican lieutenant governor, and Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat who served in Congress, met during a gubernatorial debate Thursday at Norfolk State University.
The candidates covered topics including the effects of the federal shutdown in the Commonwealth, how to keep young Virginians in the state and comments by other politicians.
Much of the early debate concerned text messages by Jay Jones, the Democrat running for attorney general. Jones sent texts in 2022 containing violent language about former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert.
The scandal dominated questions and criticism of Spanberger by Earle-Sears throughout most of the debate.
Spanberger said she denounced the comments, which she called “abhorrent.”
“And it is important that candidates always denounce violence … no matter which side of the aisle,” Spanberger said. “Violence, or violent rhetoric – violence, violent rhetoric we should always be focused and forceful in our denouncement of it.”
Earle-Sears interjected to ask whether Spanberger would tell Jones to drop out of the race. It was one of several interruptions throughout the evening. Spanberger declined to specify whether she still endorsed Jones.
“We are all running our individual races,” she said.
Moderator Deanna Allbritten of Richmond’s WRIC asked about rhetoric from President Donald Trump about political opponents following the assassination of conservative leader Charlie Kirk.
“So I, as I've said before, I would not say that,” Earle-Sears said, returning to Jones and Spanberger. She used her allotted time to press Spanberger on the issue.
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
The candidates both discussed the federal government shutdown, which impacts Virginia where the government is a major employer.
Moderators asked if Earle-Sears said Spanberger should call upon Virginia’s Democratic U.S. senators to end the shutdown.
“We only need eight – eight – Democratic senators,” Earle-Sears said. “That's all we need, and we cannot find eight and yet, and yet, we can find two in Virginia.”
Spanberger said she would urge everyone to work to end the shutdown.
“I would encourage everyone – our Democratic senators, our Democratic House members, our Republican House members– to work together and drive an effort to come back to the table.”
CAR TAX
The evening started with a question about the “dreaded” car tax. Both candidates reiterated their plans to do away with the tax.
Earle-Sears said surplus funds could offset the tax..
“We could have gotten rid of that this year, because Governor Youngkin put it in his budget that we could get rid of it. But, unfortunately, the Democrats decided against that,” she said.
The lieutenant governor then pivoted to Jones.
“Abigail, when are you going to take Jay Jones and say to him, ‘You must leave the race?’” Earle-Sears asked.
Spanberger called the car tax “the most hated tax,” and she said the administration Earle-Sears is part of hasn’t done away with it.
Pressed with how she would replace lost revenue, Spanberger said “it requires bringing people together, Democrats and Republicans, to put any and all possible paths forward on the table.”
