Abigail Spanberger is unfit to lead

Yet this progress is threatened by the possibility that former Rep. Abigail Spanberger will be elected governor on Nov. 4. Conventional wisdom holds that Virginia will revert to its blue trend, with polls showing Spanberger leading her Republican challenger, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.

THE GOP’S VIRGINIA SURGE MAY BE TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE

Yet a cringeworthy moment at the recent governor’s debate may upend the race. Spanberger repeatedly ignored Earle-Sears’s questions about whether she would pull her endorsement of Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones due to his texts fantasizing about violence against state Republicans.

“I will go to their funerals to piss on their graves,” Jones wrote, referring to state Republicans, to “send them out awash in something.” He suggested, given the choice between Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot, and former state Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert, he’d kill Gilbert “every time.”

“Abigail, you have nothing to say?” Earle-Sears asked, as Spanberger stared straight ahead, trying to ignore her. Spanberger was clearly terrified of repeating the debate implosion of her predecessor four years ago, when Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe argued parents shouldn’t tell schools what to teach their children.

So she just tried to run out the clock. But in this instance, no response was worse than the wrong response. And unbecoming for someone who wants to be governor of a state. If Spanberger doesn’t have the guts to answer this tough question, how can she be trusted to make the difficult decisions needed for Virginians as governor?

It’s clear to any fair observer that Jones should drop out of the race and never seek any public office again — let alone as the state’s top law enforcement official. His comments weren’t flippant, made in the heat of partisan rhetoric. They were considered and calculating.

“I’ve told you this before,” Jones wrote. “Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.”

This position reflects the broader postmodern worldview of an increasing number of Democrats, who believe violence is justified to achieve their political ambitions. The fact that his rhetoric and Spanberger’s refusal to denounce him come on the heels of Charlie Kirk’s assassination makes this episode all the more appalling.

Spanberger would also be bad for small businesses. She positions herself as a centrist but, in reality, holds hard-left positions that would hurt Virginia’s Main Street. Exhibit A is her support for radical labor legislation known as the Pro Act, which she co-sponsored in Congress. 

This legislation is a Big Labor wish list that tramples over the rights of small businesses and ordinary workers. It blocks the free speech of small businesses, forcibly unionizes small businesses under the auspice of “card check,” ends right-to-work, forcing employees to join unions to keep their jobs, and bans many small businesses structured as sole proprietorships.

JASON MIYARES HAMMERS JAY JONES OVER LEAKED TEXTS DURING VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL DEBATE

Spanberger also supports project labor agreements, which shut out small businesses from state contracts and raise costs for taxpayers. And she backs a $15 minimum wage that would increase prices and eliminate a main comparative advantage Virginia has over its neighboring states. A report last year by the Employment Policies Institute found that a $15 minimum wage would cost 12,000 jobs in the state.

Virginians deserve a leader who will build on Youngkin’s progress, not undo it. Youngkin has been a profile in leadership, good governance, and pro-small business policies, while Spanberger would return Virginia to special interests and politics as usual.

Alfredo Ortiz is CEO of Job Creators Network, author of The Real Race Revolutionaries, and co-host of the Main Street Matters podcast.