Republican Winsome Earle-Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger. Credit: RealRadio804
As Republican Winsome Earle-Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger face off in the first all-women gubernatorial election in Virginia, a state that has never had a female governor, it’s important to get to know both candidates before heading to the polls on November 4th.
Earle-Sears, a native of Jamaica, has a rich political background, having served in the U.S. Marine Corps and the State House of Delegates. Moreover, her grandmother has been a great political influence, as she “watched her help those who were not able to help themselves and, at the same time, engage political leaders. She wanted political leaders to know they were answerable to us, the people!” while growing up in Jamaica.
She is the first woman to serve as Virginia’s lieutenant governor, a seat she has held for nearly four years, and the first Black woman elected to statewide office in the Commonwealth.
She graduated from Old Dominion University as an undergraduate and Regent University with a master’s degree in organizational leadership. She is most proud of her community service work, especially her role as a women’s homeless shelter director.
She says, “I want to continue Virginia’s success by lowering taxes, keeping us safe, and creating jobs.”
Spanberger, however, has worked with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to investigate child predators and federal narcotic and money laundering cases. She then served as a CIA officer, where she worked to uncover criminal organizations and prevent terrorist attacks.
She has since served three terms as the first woman to represent Virginia’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as the first Democrat in more than half a century to hold that seat.
“I was raised with the understanding that if you see something wrong, you do everything in your power to fix it. I ran for Congress because, at the time, my representative voted to eliminate health care coverage for people like my neighbors.”
She is a University of Virginia alumna and an MBA graduate through a dual-degree program between Purdue University and GISMA Business School in Germany.
Spanberger says, “Now, when I think of the challenges facing Virginia — from threats to Virginia’s workforce and economy to rising costs for families across our Commonwealth — these challenges can be addressed most immediately and most impactfully at the state level.”
What the Polls are Saying
According to Virginia Commonwealth’s polls, “28% of voters identified the rising cost of living, followed by women’s reproductive rights (14%) and immigration (14%).”
However, according to the December 2024 Commonwealth Poll, 58% of voters cited the cost of living as their top concern, with K–12 education as their second-most important issue at 14%. This may suggest another shift in voter priorities as we head into the fall.
Among Virginia likely voters, Spanberger leads Earle-Sears by 12 points, 52% to 40%, with 8% saying they are undecided.
It’s no surprise that Spanberger’s support is strongest among Democratic voters (95%), Independents (55% to 32%), Black voters (85% to 6%), women (58% to 33%), voters aged 18–44 (56% to 36%), and voters with college degrees (60% to 30%). Her appeal is further shaped by her identity as a married mother of three school-age daughters and her policy positions on reproductive rights and healthcare costs.
Earle-Sears enjoys 91% support within her own party and leads among white voters (50% to 44%) and male voters (48% to 44%). This reflects her emphasis on lowering taxes, defending gun rights, and her outspoken support for Donald Trump.
Spartan Echo 