HENRICO, Va. — Today, more Virginia state and local leaders from across the Commonwealth endorsed U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger to serve as the 75th Governor of Virginia.
Today’s endorsements reflect Spanberger’s demonstrated commitment to tackling a wide range of issues — including strengthening public education, protecting reproductive freedom, preventing gun violence, supporting Virginia’s small businesses, and much more.
The following Virginia elected officials today announced their support for Spanberger to serve as Virginia’s next Governor.
Virginia House of Delegates
Del. Richard C. “Rip” Sullivan Jr., Virginia House of Delegates, District 6
Del. Paul Krizek, Virginia House of Delegates, District 16
Del. Betsy B. Carr, Virginia House of Delegates, District 78
Virginia Local Officials
Councilman Brian K. Fields, Dumfries Town Council
Joseph D. Platania, Commonwealth’s Attorney, City of Charlottesville
Elaine Tholen, Chair, Fairfax County School Board
Karl Frisch, Vice Chair, Fairfax County School Board
Councilwoman Jamie Clancey, LCSW, Culpeper Town Council
Maggie Ragon, Commissioner of the Revenue, Staunton
Jannan Holmes, Member, Fredericksburg School Board
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Virginia House of Delegates
“Abigail Spanberger is the dynamic and determined leader the Commonwealth needs — and I enthusiastically endorse her to serve as Virginia’s next Governor. She is the clear choice to protect reproductive freedom, prevent gun violence in our communities, and make landmark progress in tackling climate change while creating a more sustainable Virginia for our children and grandchildren.”
— Del. Richard C. “Rip” Sullivan Jr., Virginia House of Delegates, District 6
“Abigail Spanberger cares about the future of our communities, our Commonwealth, and our democracy — and I am proud to enthusiastically endorse her to serve as the 75th Governor of Virginia. In Congress, she has demonstrated her clear focus on lowering healthcare costs, increasing access to mental health resources, preventing gun violence, investing in our workforce, and supporting our public schools. As our next Governor, she will move Virginia forward.” — Del. Paul Krizek, Virginia House of Delegates, District 16
“I am very excited to endorse Abigail Spanberger for Governor, because Abigail understands the greater Richmond area and the opportunities and challenges we face. I have watched Abigail focus on getting results throughout her public service career, and that’s what we need — someone who can and will prioritize our public schools and our small businesses, who will protect our rights, defend our natural resources, and support our families. Abigail has always worked to bring people together, and I know she will be a very successful Governor.” — Del. Betsy B. Carr, Virginia House of Delegates, District 78
Virginia Local Officials
“As our Congresswoman, Abigail Spanberger has listened to the needs of Dumfries, been present and active in our community, and committed herself to putting others first. As our Governor, Abigail will be laser-focused on the issues facing our families, our schools, and our small businesses. I proudly endorse Abigail for Governor of Virginia.” — Councilman Brian K. Fields, Dumfries Town Council
“As a Commonwealth’s Attorney, I greatly appreciate Abigail Spanberger’s lifelong commitment to public service, her work to prevent overdoses and to treat addiction here in Virginia, and her strong support for community policing. In building safe and stable communities, she understands that our criminal justice system must balance accountability with healing and repair. I am proud to endorse Abigail Spanberger to serve as our next Governor, because she gets results.” — Joseph D. Platania, Commonwealth’s Attorney, City of Charlottesville
“Abigail Spanberger brings her critical perspective as a parent of three school-aged kids to the job. As Governor, she will strengthen our public schools, prioritize success in the classroom, and invest in the next generation. Fairfax County students, parents, educators, and administrators will have an ally in Abigail Spanberger. As a longtime STEM educator and environmental advocate, I am proud to endorse her to serve as the next Governor of Virginia.”— Elaine Tholen, Chair, Fairfax County School Board
“I’m endorsing Abigail Spanberger to serve as our next Governor, because I know she will make certain our large and diverse school district has the resources necessary to ensure every student has a safe and inclusive school with exceptional educators laser-focused on their success. She truly cares about the unique needs of all students — regardless of their background — and will focus on delivering results and support to their families.” — Karl Frisch, Vice Chair, Fairfax County School Board
“As Culpeper’s Member of Congress, Abigail Spanberger has always delivered results for our community — and I am excited to endorse her for Governor of Virginia. She will strengthen our public schools, focus on growing the economy for our small businesses, and make sure communities like Culpeper have the necessary resources to keep our community safe.”
— Councilwoman Jamie Clancey, LCSW, Culpeper Town Council
“In Congress, Abigail Spanberger has demonstrated a commitment to every Virginian she serves, and I know she will make an excellent Governor for the Shenandoah Valley and our entire Commonwealth. I’m proud to endorse her, because Staunton’s families, businesses, and economy will benefit from her steady leadership.”
— Maggie Ragon, Commissioner of the Revenue, Staunton
“Abigail knows how to bring people together and find common ground — and I’ve seen that firsthand. As someone who cares deeply about the future of the Fredericksburg community, I know that Abigail has a record of listening to our concerns and then responding with results. And as a school board member, I know that Abigail will work to strengthen our public schools and make sure our region’s students have strong opportunities in the future. I am proud to endorse Abigail to serve as the next Governor of Virginia.” — Jannan Holmes, Member, Fredericksburg School Board
Since the launch of Spanberger’s campaign 18 days ago, the following officials have now endorsed her campaign:
Governor
Gov. Ralph Northam, 73rd Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia
U.S. House
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08)
U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton (VA-10)
U.S. Rep. Gerald E. “Gerry” Connolly (VA-11)
Former U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria (VA-02)
Former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello (VA-05)
Former U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher (VA-09)
Virginia State Senate
Senator-Elect Schuyler VanValkenburg, Virginia State Senate, District 16
Sen. Adam Ebbin, Virginia Senate District 30
Sen. Barbara Favola, Virginia Senate District 31
Virginia House of Delegates
Del. Richard C. “Rip” Sullivan Jr., Virginia House of Delegates, District 6
Del. Irene Shin, Virginia House of Delegates, District 8
Del. Paul Krizek, Virginia House of Delegates, District 16
Del. Mark D. Sickles, Virginia House of Delegates, District 17
Delegate-Elect Josh Thomas, Virginia House of Delegates, District 21
Delegate-Elect Fernando “Marty” Martinez, Virginia House of Delegates, District 29
Del. Kathleen Murphy, Virginia House of Delegates, District 34
Former Del. Mark Keam, Virginia House of Delegates, District 35
Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker, Member of the Virginia House of Delegates, District 45
Del. Sally Hudson, Member of the Virginia House of Delegates, District 57
Del. Rodney Willett, Member of the Virginia House of Delegates, District 58
Delegate-Elect Joshua Cole, Virginia House of Delegates, District 65
Del. Betsy B. Carr, Virginia House of Delegates, District 78
Virginia Local Officials
Daun Hester, Treasurer, City of Norfolk; former Member of the Virginia House of Delegates, District 89
Supervisor Victor Angry, Neabsco District, Prince William County Board of Supervisors
Frank Reaves, Jr., Mayor of Culpeper
Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Mayor of Fredericksburg
Michelle Davis-Younger, Mayor of Manassas City
Leslie Hager-Smith, Mayor of Blacksburg
Earnie Porta, Mayor of Occoquan
Elaine Tholen, Chair, Fairfax County School Board
Karl Frisch, Vice Chair, Fairfax County School Board
Councilwoman Courtney R. Doyle, Norfolk City Council
Councilman Thomas R. Smigiel Jr., Norfolk City Council
Councilwoman Jamie Clancey, LCSW, Culpeper Town Council
Councilman Brian K. Fields, Dumfries Town Council
Phil Kellam, Commissioner of the Revenue, Virginia Beach
Tom Clinton, Commissioner of the Revenue, City of Falls Church
Maggie Ragon, Commissioner of the Revenue, Staunton
Doug Mullins, Jr., Commissioner of the Revenue, Wise County
Jannan Holmes, Member, Fredericksburg School Board
Baron Braswell, Former Member, Spotsylvania County School Board
Joseph D. Platania, Commonwealth’s Attorney, City of Charlottesville
BACKGROUND
U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) is serving her third term in the U.S. House of Representatives. In Congress, she serves on the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.
Before Congress, Spanberger served as a federal law enforcement officer — tracking narcotics traffickers and working money laundering cases — and as a CIA case officer — working undercover on counterterrorism and nuclear counterproliferation cases. She and her husband Adam are raising three school-aged daughters in Virginia.
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