Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat representing what has been a aggressive U.S. House seat in Virginia, introduced Monday that she is operating for governor of the state.
The third-term congresswoman is not going to search re-election in 2024 for the House seat she held by 4.66 share factors in 2022. She defeated Republican Dave Brat in 2018.
Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who assumed workplace at first of 2022, is barred by the state structure from operating for a second consecutive time period in 2025.
“The greatest honor of my life has been to represent Virginians in the U.S. House. Today, I am proud to announce that I will be working hard to gain the support and trust of all Virginians to continue this service as the next Governor of Virginia,” Spanberger mentioned in a press release.
“Virginia is where I grew up, where I am raising my own family, and where I intend to build a stronger future for the next generation of Virginians,” she continued. “As a former CIA case officer, former federal law enforcement officer, and current Member of Congress, I have always believed in the value of public service. I look forward to serving the Seventh District through the end of this term and then pursuing the important work of bringing Virginia together to keep our Commonwealth strong.”
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Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., speaks throughout an interview at her congressional places of work in Washington, Feb. 8, 2023. Spanberger has introduced she’s going to run in 2024 for Virginia governor. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard, File)
In her gubernatorial marketing campaign announcement video, titled “What Matters Most,” Spanberger took intention at Republicans over abortion and “banning books.”
“Despite dangerous polarization, I have found ways to bring people together and focus on what really matters,” she mentioned of her profession in Congress, claiming to have supplied assist to veterans, small companies and households and communities fighting habit.
“But today, we find ourselves at a crossroads. Our country and our Commonwealth are facing fundamental threats to our rights, our freedoms, and to our democracy. While some politicians in Richmond focus on banning abortion and books, what they’re not doing is helping people,” she mentioned. “I know how to bring people together and get real things done that improve lives.”
In Congress, Spanberger serves on the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin visits a polling station on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. The state structure prevents him from searching for a consecutive time period. (Julia Nikhinson/For The Washington Post through Getty Images)
Spanberger’s resolution to not search re-election within the House may result in a aggressive Democratic major within the seventh. A handful of Republican candidates have additionally already introduced campaigns.
The former CIA officer and regulation enforcement officer for the U.S. Postal Service received her first congressional race in a district that had been held by Republicans for nearly 50 years.
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The Commonwealth prohibits its governors from serving consecutive phrases. That has led to intense hypothesis about Youngkin’s subsequent political transfer, in addition to early jockeying in efficient shadow campaigns for the chief government’s workplace.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., speaks at a marketing campaign rally on Nov. 4, 2023 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Spanberger introduced she is not going to search one other House time period. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston, File)
As for different potential gubernatorial candidates, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, a Democrat, is anticipated to announce marketing campaign plans quickly, in response to The Associated Press.
Among Republicans, Attorney General Jason Miyares and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears are broadly seen in political circles as probably contenders. Neither has publicly dedicated to a run, and each have additionally mentioned they had been centered on this yr’s legislative races.
Outgoing Republican state Sen. Amanda Chase can also run. Chase, who misplaced a June major and ran unsuccessfully for her social gathering’s nomination for governor in 2021, mentioned she has dominated out operating for the U.S. Senate subsequent yr and is considering one other run for governor or lieutenant governor, characterizing the latter of these two as extra probably.
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Last month, former Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn introduced she wouldn’t run for governor in 2025 and can as a substitute run subsequent yr to characterize the aggressive northern Virginia congressional seat being vacated by a fellow Democrat, Rep. Jennifer Wexton.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
