‘Let your rage fuel you’: At Eastern Henrico campaign stop, Spanberger calls on voters to flip statewide seats

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger greeted a small crowd of voters at the Eastern Henrico Government Center Sept. 19, celebrating the first day of early voting in her “native” Henrico.

Several local Henrico officials came out to support Spanberger, highlighting her and her family’s ties to the local community. Spenbarger, who attended J.R. Tucker High School, moved to Henrico at age 13 with her parents, and now has three children in Henrico County Public Schools.

“I’m so happy that we have somebody from right here in Henrico, a real native,” said Virginia Democratic Party Chair and State Senator Lamont Bagby. “Her parents have helped us in the Henrico Democratic Committee for many years. They have been a part of the team. And so I know you all are proud, and I’m proud.”

Not just policy, but also the willingness to listen and to care about residents’ concerns is important to Henrico voters, said local resident Joyce Davis. 

“I’ve known Abigail’s mom for about 20 years, and her values sort of transcended down,” Davis said. “She’s concerned about individual residents of Virginia, and I think that’s what sets her apart. I want someone that will take phone calls, someone who is willing to have conversations with all individuals.”

At the campaign stop, Spanberger encouraged voters to not only focus on the three statewide races – governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general – but also the 100 Virginia House of Delegates races on the ballot this fall.

“Let your rage fuel you,” she said. “The things that you think are wrong, these things that we want to improve, the things we want to make better. . . that we want to see in Richmond, or that we want to see pushed back against in Washington. We have the ability here in Virginia to ensure that we set the stage for what’s to come.”

Spanberger emphasized her focus on housing affordability and lowering costs, as well as the need to strengthen Virginia’s public schools.

“Issues of affordability continue to be top of mind for people across Virginia,” she said. “So how we can put real efforts in place, not just to lower costs, but to, frankly, mitigate the harm of bad policies coming out of Washington that will further raise costs in this consequential time? And then, importantly, I’m focused on being the governor who wants to uplift and strengthen our public education system at all levels.”

Spanberger also made a stop in Western Henrico earlier on Friday, greeting more than 300 voters and even Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate John Reid, before heading to Fairfax to continue campaigning that afternoon.

Later on Friday, Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, was joined by Vivek Ramaswamy, who formerly led the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, at a rally in Chesterfield – one that Spanberger had urged Earle-Sears to cancel.

“[W]e are seeing a rally with Vivek Ramaswamy, the architect of the DOGE effort,” said Spanberger, “which has led to thousands of Virginians losing their jobs and has had a real negative impact on small business owners and community members across the commonwealth, but highly concentrated in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads – I hope he answers some questions about how that was a good idea.”

Recent polls have shown Spanberger with more than a 10-point lead over Earle-Sears, as well as leads from Democrats in other statewide races.

“We’re going to win,” said Spanberger. “And then, we’re going to win decisively.”

Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s government and education reporter. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.