3 memorable moments from Virginia governor’s debate between Spanberger, Earle-Sears
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Note: The 2025 Virginia Gubernatorial Debate is included in full above.
NORFOLK, Va. (WRIC) -- On Thursday, former U.S. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger and current Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears went head-to-head on the debate stage -- and it was a night to remember.
On Thursday, Oct. 9, WAVY-10 hosted the Virginia Gubernatorial Debate at Norfolk State University. It was moderated by 8News' own Deanna Allbrittin and WAVY anchor Tom Schaad.
This marked the one and only time Spanberger and Earle-Sears will face off on the debate stage prior to Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 4. No matter which of these two candidates Virginians pick as their next governor, they will make history as the first-ever woman to lead the Commonwealth.
8News has compiled three memorable moments from the debate.
'Voters cannot hear if you're talking over Mrs. Spanberger'
8News anchor Deanna Allbrittin [left] and WAVY anchor Tom Schaad [right] moderating the 2025 Virginia Gubernatorial Debate. (Photo: WAVY-10)
Per the debate's rules, each candidate is meant to have 60 seconds to answer a question posed to them and then 30 seconds for any follow-ups. They are allowed to finish a sentence if their time runs out in the middle.
From the moment the debate began, both Allbrittin and Schaad had to repeatedly ask Earle-Sears to stop speaking over Spanberger when it was Spanberger's turn to answer.
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The crosstalk made it difficult for Spanberger to be heard throughout.
"Virginia's voters cannot hear if you're talking over Mrs. Spanberger," Allbrittin said during questions about reproductive rights.
Similarly, Schaad tried to ask Earle-Sears to be quiet by telling her she'd "get her chance" and that she "must let [Spanberger] speak." There were a few instances in which moderators had to ask Spanberger a follow-up question simply because they did not hear her original answer over Earle-Sears.
"Mrs. Earle-Sears, we're not going to be able to get to as many topics if we keep having to give Mrs. Spanberger time, as you're interrupting her," Allbrittin said when the candidates were talking about school curricula.
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Multiple times during her own opportunities to speak, Earle-Sears turned to Spanberger and posed a question of her own to her opponent. Spanberger routinely did not answer, remaining quiet.
"I'm asking the questions here," Allbrittin reminded Earle-Sears during one such interaction.
Despite an abundance of attempts to correct her, Earle-Sears continued to speak over Spanberger until the very end of the debate, with moderators having to cut off discussion in order to end the event.
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Winsome Earle-Sears at the 2025 Virginia Gubernatorial Debate. (Photo: WAVY-10)
Abigail Spanberger at the 2025 Virginia Gubernatorial Debate. (Photo: WAVY-10)
At the top of the debate after being asked about the car tax, Earle-Sears brought up the recent controversy surrounding text messages Democratic candidate for attorney general Jay Jones sent in 2022. In these messages, Jones discussed a hypothetical scenario in which former Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert would be shot, among other violent subjects.
Once the car tax question was done, Allbrittin posed questions about Jones and political discourse to the candidates. She asked Spanberger to explain when she found out about the texts and if she continued to endorse him for attorney general.
Spanberger answered the former question by saying she openly denounced these texts when she learned of them, seeming to imply that she became aware of the texts when the public did.
However, despite Allbrittin pressing her multiple to give a direct answer about the endorsement, Spanberger would not, instead emphasizing that voters could make their own decisions.
"Mrs. Spanberger, I understand what you're saying about the voters," Allbrittin said. "But for you, yourself: Do you still continue to endorse Jay Jones? 15 seconds, yes or no."
"We are all running our individual races -- I believe my opponent has said that about her lieutenant governor nominee [John Reid,]" Spanberger said in answer. "And it is up to every person to make their own decision. I am running my race to serve Virginia and that is what I intend to do."
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Earle-Sears was then asked if she condemned political speech like the comment President Donald Trump made at Charlie Kirk's memorial service: "I hate my opponent, and I don't want the best for them."
While Earle-Sears did say she's a "Christian before [she is] a Republican," that she values forgiveness and that she "would not say that [what Trump said,'" she would not outright denounce that kind of political speech. Instead, she said that she could only be responsible for her own behavior.
A moment of kindness amid otherwise heated debate
Abigail Spanberger [left] and Winsome Earle-Sears [right] shake hands after Spanberger compliments Earle-Sears during the 2025 Virginia Gubernatorial Debate. (Photo: WAVY-10)
Despite just how contentious the majority of the debate was, Spanberger and Earle-Sears did share a brief moment of kindness.
When asked what quality of Earle-Sears' that Spanberger admires, the former Congresswoman said that she admired Earle-Sears' faith and her military service. When speaking of the former, she referenced Earle-Sears' prison ministry work.
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Regarding the latter, Spanberger touched on Earle-Sears opting to enlist as an immigrant.
"Particularly as someone who chose to be an American and chose to serve -- I think those are admirable traits, and, frankly, what makes our country and our Commonwealth a special place," Spanberger said. "That people the world over come to our country to become Americans, to serve in the military and in elected office."
When Spanberger finished speaking, Earle-Sears stepped across the stage to offer a handshake, which Spanberger accepted. When Earle-Sears returned to her podium, she had a smile on her face, seemingly appreciative of Spanberger's words.
Earle-Sears was then asked the same question about Spanberger.
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"From what I've seen, I believe she is a devoted mom -- I truly believe that," Earle-Sears said. "And that she is a daughter who loves her parents very much. And I do believe that she cares."
For more coverage on the Virginia Gubernatorial Debate, click here.
