Virginia is headed to the polls September 19th (mail in ballots) through November 4 (in person) to elect the next governor, choosing between Abigail Spanberger, who represents the Democratic Party, and Winsome Earle-Sears, who represents the Republican Party.
Abigail Spanberger’s career started as a federal law enforcement officer working with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, then later working for the CIA as a case worker. She was elected to Congress in 2019 and finished her term in 2025. Spanberger has based her political campaign on the crucialness of creating jobs, improving the education system, and making life more affordable.
Winsome Earle-Sears is the current lieutenant governor of Virginia with her term ending January 2026. She has served in the United States Marine Corps, and as Vice President on the Virginian State Board of Education. Earle-Sears has made a point of polices on transgender individuals using women’s locker rooms and promises to cut “wasteful government spending.”
Why do we need a governor? The Virginia state governor, whoever she shall be, will be the head of the executive branch for the state, will implement and veto bills, and command the state militia.
Staying informed of the candidates and their policies is extremely vital. Voters need to know what they are getting into before they make a commitment to a candidate. Even if someone can’t vote yet, it is important to understand the policies what may be implemented within the next few years.
A new voter, Lucy Furcron, says she was well-informed on most of the topics but not all and was “motivated to vote because of the threat to human rights that would happen if I, or others, didn’t vote.” A more experienced voter, Justin Barone, agrees that voting and sharing your voice is very important and advises “research the candidates thoroughly and know your positions on the topics.”
