Former CIA officer Abigail Spanberger won the Democratic primary to take on Virginia Republican Rep. Dave Brat in November, continuing a “year of the woman” trend in recent nominating contests.
Spanberger beat retired Marine pilot Dan Ward to advance in the race for the 7th Congressional District. Though similar on most policy issues, Spanberger differed from Ward in her style. Where Ward loudly criticized President Trump, Spanberger struck a more moderate tone, promising to work across the aisle.
“For me it’s about changing the conversation and really working to make sure that even if on one side the rhetoric and anger is really intense, that we’re not volleying back with the same anger and intensity,” she told the Washington Examiner earlier this year.
Flipping the district would be a huge lift for Democrats, but if there’s a blue wave the 7th District of Virginia could be an upset.
The suburban district is the kind of seat Democrats are targeting across the country. Spanberger will have to pull independents and disenfranchised Republicans into her corner to beat Brat.
Rep. Gerry Connolly said Brat’s combative persona and history as the man who dethroned House Majority Leader Eric Cantor could prove fatal for the two-term Republican.
“I’d put it in play just because of the uniqueness of the incumbent, how he got there,” said Connolly. “His relationship to the Republican establishment, his identification with the far Right here may not play that well with moderate Republicans and independents, especially those who liked Eric Cantor.”
