RICHMOND, Va. — It's official — U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger announced Monday morning that she will be running to become the 75th Governor of Virginia.
There has been talk of this potential political move for the three-term Democratic congresswoman from the Commonwealth for months. With her tossing her hat in the ring for the race for governor, she is forgoing reelection bids for the U.S. House in 2024. Instead she will be using time for the campaign trail for the 2025 governor role.
“The greatest honor of my life has been to represent Virginians in the U.S. House. Today, I am proud to announce that I will be working hard to gain the support and trust of all Virginians to continue this service as the next Governor of Virginia,” Spanberger said in a press statement Monday. “Virginia is where I grew up, where I am raising my own family, and where I intend to build a stronger future for the next generation of Virginians. As a former CIA case officer, former federal law enforcement officer, and current Member of Congress, I have always believed in the value of public service. I look forward to serving the Seventh District through the end of this term and then pursuing the important work of bringing Virginia together to keep our Commonwealth strong.”
As a part of her announcement, Spanberger released a video titled "What Matters Most" detailing her record of public service, her vision for the future of the state, as well as her reputation when it comes to getting things done. Here's a look at the video:
In the video, she says she wants to focus on things such as:
- Lowering prescription drug prices
- Growing the middle class
- Lowering costs
- Easing inflation
- Focus on recruiting and retaining teachers
- Stopping extremists from shredding women’s reproductive rights
"Even in this moment of deep division, we can seize the opportunity. I am running to serve all Virginians in every community across our Commonwealth, because it’s about time we do what’s right for everyone," she said. "And that’s what matters most."
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Virginia) became the first member Virginia's congressional delegation to Spanberger for governor.