Demonstrating Clear Grassroots Enthusiasm, Hundreds of Campaign Volunteers & Supporters Gathered in Downtown Richmond to Celebrate the Spanberger for Governor Campaign

RICHMOND, Va. — Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger yesterday hosted a celebration with hundreds of volunteers and supporters before submitting more than 40,000 petition signatures — four times the number required to get on the ballot in November for Governor of Virginia.

More than 1,300 campaign volunteers collected signatures across the Commonwealth. Following Monday’s event, Spanberger and several campaign volunteers headed down the street to the Virginia Department of Elections to submit the campaign’s petition signatures and Spanberger’s signed paperwork to get on the ballot.

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Richmond Times-Dispatch: Spanberger turns in four times the required signatures on first filing day

Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor, walked into the Virginia Department of Elections on Monday morning and turned in 40,872 petition signatures — more than four times the required number — to get on the ballot.

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Spanberger held a rally at Capital Ale House in downtown Richmond on Monday morning before turning in her petitions.

“When we’re talking about more than 40,000 signatures, that’s more than 40,000 people across the commonwealth who signed to ensure we had access to the ballot,” Spanberger told reporters before her rally. “We’re excited to bring these lovely bankers’ boxes over and make clear that we have the organization, certainly not just to get this done, but to ensure we win in November.”

WVTF/Radio IQ: Virginia statewide candidates submit signatures to get on the ballot

A handful of the nearly 20 candidates for statewide office in Virginia this year were at Virginia’s Department of Elections Monday morning. They were submitting the required number of signatures to get on the 2025 primary ballot.

“Please welcome the next governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia… Abigail Spanberger!” shouted a campaign volunteer announcing Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Abigail Spanberger on stage at a party for the candidate Monday.

Spanberger is one of the 18 candidates for Virginia’s statewide offices – that’s governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general – according to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. Monday was the first day they could submit signatures to get on the ballot. And some, including Spanberger, personally delivered the paperwork to the state board of elections office.

“The bottom line is people want an effectiveness in governance and they want a governor who’s attuned to the challenges that they’re facing and focused on actually addressing them,” Spanberger said of what she heard from voters while collecting signatures.

Virginian-Pilot [Norfolk]: Virginia state office candidates begin submitting signatures to qualify for the ballot

Meanwhile, former U.S. Rep. and Democratic candidate for governor Abigail Spanberger submitted more than 40,000 signatures, according to her campaign.

“Virginians deserve a Governor who is not afraid to stand up for them — someone who is not afraid to protect their fundamental freedoms, protect their jobs, protect our public schools, and protect the long-term stability of the Commonwealth’s economy,” she said in a statement. “Thank you to every Virginian who participated in our civic process and demonstrated the strength of our campaign to build a stronger Virginia.”

Virginia Scope: Candidates turn in signatures to get on the ballot

Monday is the first day that statewide candidates can turn in the 10,000 signatures required for them to appear on the primary ballot in June. Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Sears both submitted their signatures at 12 p.m., the first minute that the Department of Elections allows.

“When I first decided to run for governor, I knew the way that we would win would be by organizing people, by getting people excited about this campaign,” Spanberger said in front of hundreds of her supporters Monday morning.

“More than 40,000 people signed their name to say, yes, I want to get her on the ballot,” Spanberger continued.

Dogwood: Spanberger calls for ‘strongest public schools’ in country as she files for governor

Candidates running in statewide elections – Virginia is also holding elections for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General this fall – had to collect 10,000 signatures, including 400 from each of Virginia’s 11 congressional districts to get on the ballot this fall.

Spanberger turned in more than 40,000 signatures, with more than 1,400 coming from each of Virginia’s 11 different congressional districts, her campaign said. Spanberger’s campaign hosted a celebration in Richmond on Monday with supporters to celebrate the reportedly record-breaking milestone.

Spanberger told the crowd of fired-up supporters at Richmond’s Capital Ale House that her campaign was about winning and regaining power in Virginia, but also about the issues she wants to tackle once elected.

“It is about going head first at the challenges facing Virginians,” Spanberger said. “Everywhere I travel across the Commonwealth, I hear from parents and community members that they want Virginia to have the strongest public schools in the entire country.”

BACKGROUND

Candidates for statewide office in Virginia are required to collect 10,000 signatures, including a minimum of 400 signatures from all 11 of Virginia’s congressional districts, to formally declare their candidacy. The Spanberger for Governor campaign collected more than 1,400 signatures from each congressional district — exceeding the per-district requirement by at least 1,000 signatures in each district.

MOMENTUM: This clear example of grassroots support comes as the Spanberger for Governor campaign has raised more than $13 million since launching in November 2023. Over the last six months, Spanberger has attended more than 105 events across the Commonwealth as a candidate for Governor.

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