• Press Release

Abigail Spanberger Stands Out as Clear Winner in Virginia Gubernatorial Debate

October 9, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger once again showed why she is the right leader for this moment. She laid out a clear plan to protect reproductive freedom, lower costs for working families, and safeguard Virginians’ healthcare. Jessica Mackler, president of EMILYs List, released the following statement on Abigail’s commanding debate performance:

“Tonight, Winsome Earle-Sears tried to mislead Virginians with chaotic rants, interruptions, and misinformation — but Abigail Spanberger rose above the noise and decisively won the debate. 

Earle-Sears, on the other hand, made clear she is completely unfit to lead Virginia forward. Her agenda would strip Virginians of abortion access and drag the Commonwealth backward. This November, abortion rights are on the line and it is critical that we elect Abigail Spanberger — a lifelong champion for reproductive freedom — as our next governor.”

More on Earle-Sears’ Extreme Anti-Abortion Track Record: 

  • Earle-Sears supports an extreme near-total abortion ban similar to the law that took effect in Texas that bans abortion before most women know they are pregnant and has put many lives at risk. 
  • Earle-Sears has said that she would support an abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest.
  • Earle-Sears issued a threatening warning to supporters of reproductive rights that “murder is murder and one day it’s going to be your turn.” This is just the latest example in her extreme record. 
  • Earle-Sears supported an abortion ban more extreme than one proposed by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
  • Earle-Sears opposes Virginia’s reproductive rights amendment that would protect contraception, abortion, and IVF.
  • Earle-Sears vowed to “do everything in [her] power” to end abortion in Virginia. 

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EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, works to elect Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot and across the country with a goal of fighting for our rights and our communities. Over 40 years, EMILYs List has raised nearly $950 million to help Democratic women win competitive elections by recruiting and training candidates, supporting and helping build strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, running one of the most impactful independent expenditure operations for Democrats, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect the country’s first woman as vice president, 192 women to the House, 29 to the Senate, 20 governors, and over 1,600 women to state and local office. More than 40% of the candidates EMILYs List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. Visit www.emilyslist.org for more information.