Spanberger, Sears speak to the business community as the 2025 governor race takes center stage
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- With the curtain officially closed on the 2024 presidential election, the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election is now set to take center stage. The two leading candidates, Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, and Democratic Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger shared the spotlight for the first time on Friday at an economic summit in Richmond. Sears highlighted the “remarkable achievements” made under the leadership of Governor Glenn Youngkin. “We have fostered a business-friendly environment ... that is more efficient, less burdensome, and accountable to Virginians, " said Sears. Meanwhile, Spanbeger focused on her accomplishments during her time in Congress. “I worked on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act since the earliest days of its inception to ensure that Virginia, our region, and the country are investing in infrastructure that allows Virginia businesses to compete nationally and globally.” Perhaps the most contentious moment came when Sears criticized Spanberger for supporting a 2021 bill (in Congress) that would have effectively overridden a Virginia law that allows employees to work without being forced to pay fees to a union. “Being pro-right-to-work respects every worker's right to choose whether to join a union and that’s without coercion or financial penalties,” said Sears. Spannberger didn’t address the attack, but instead focused her remarks on the need to increase funding for early childhood, K-12, and higher education in Virginia along with ensuring Virginia addresses its childcare crisis. “Watching skilled trained professionals back out of the workforce because of childcare costs, doesn't just impact that family, that professional parent or the business that loses a valuable employee, it slows Virginia’s growth,” Spanberger explained. Sears and Spanberger are the only two major party candidates who have already announced their runs for governor. 8News Political Analyst Rich Meagher says more candidates could run, but he added it was unlikely.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- With the curtain officially closed on the 2024 presidential election, the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election is now set to take center stage.
The two leading candidates, Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, and Democratic Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger shared the spotlight for the first time on Friday at an economic summit in Richmond.
Sears highlighted the “remarkable achievements” made under the leadership of Governor Glenn Youngkin.
“We have fostered a business-friendly environment ... that is more efficient, less burdensome, and accountable to Virginians, " said Sears.
Meanwhile, Spanbeger focused on her accomplishments during her time in Congress.
“I worked on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act since the earliest days of its inception to ensure that Virginia, our region, and the country are investing in infrastructure that allows Virginia businesses to compete nationally and globally.”
Perhaps the most contentious moment came when Sears criticized Spanberger for supporting a 2021 bill (in Congress) that would have effectively overridden a Virginia law that allows employees to work without being forced to pay fees to a union.
“Being pro-right-to-work respects every worker's right to choose whether to join a union and that’s without coercion or financial penalties,” said Sears.
Spannberger didn’t address the attack, but instead focused her remarks on the need to increase funding for early childhood, K-12, and higher education in Virginia along with ensuring Virginia addresses its childcare crisis.
“Watching skilled trained professionals back out of the workforce because of childcare costs, doesn't just impact that family, that professional parent or the business that loses a valuable employee, it slows Virginia’s growth,” Spanberger explained.
Sears and Spanberger are the only two major party candidates who have already announced their runs for governor. 8News Political Analyst Rich Meagher says more candidates could run, but he added it was unlikely.
