By Avery Davis
ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) – It was standing room only at the Greencroft Club Sunday afternoon, April 27, as 250 Charlottesville-area Democrats gathered to welcome a familiar face to town.
As Abigail Spanberger transitions from her time in Congress to her race to Richmond, the Gubernatorial candidate made a stop in the county of which she formerly represented a “small sliver” as 7th District Congresswoman.
In her years attending the Albemarle County Democratic Fundraiser event, 54th Delegate Katrina Callsen said she has never seen such a high turnout.
As the Virginia Democrats discussed November’s upcoming governor’s race, much attention was put on Washington DC, and what Spanberger believes to be failure by Republicans in Congress and the White House to protect the Commonwealth’s interest.
“There’s a lot at stake, and really what it comes down to is we as Virginians and as Americans, we deserve better than what we have in this current moment,” Spanberger said.
Spanberger told the crowd all eyes would be on Virginia come election time.
“We are a bell weather state,” Spanberger said, “and I don’t want to just win, I want to crush it.”
With a current Republican governor and higher-than-expected Trump-loyalty last November, Spanberger acknowledged her ticket to Richmond is no guarantee. But she is hopeful with how her campaign efforts have gone thus far.
“As I continue across the Commonwealth delivering that message and talking to voters, one by one we’re winning support and that is how we’ll win in November,” Spanberger said.
To do so, she said she is touting her across-the-aisle work in Congress as a way to win over undecided voters.
“I was always ranked the most bipartisan member of Congress… in Virginia,” Spanberger said. “That’s not just a talking point; it speaks to approach, to my ability to get things done,” Spanberger said.
In her address to attendees, Spanberger emphasized national politics, urging her fellow Democrats to support her campaign against cuts impacting Virginia’s federal work force.
Some of her supporters in attendance said the state is facing uncertain times, and they believe she is the best person to navigate them.
“Virginia is really ready for a leader who is willing to stand up to what is happening in D.C.,” Callsen said.
When asked whether last November’s election results could be a poor sign for Spanberger’s campaign, chair of the county’s party Bruce Kirley said times have changed.
“We’ve got bridges that are crumbling, highways that need to be fixed, schools that need to be repaired, people that are out of work soon because of the policy in D.C., and there are a lot of things like that that need to be addressed,” Kirtley said, “and I think Abigail Spanberger is the person for that.”