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Abigail Spanberger

Democrat running for U.S. Congress in Virginia’s 7th District.

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News 2018

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In The News (2018)

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NBC News

| November 2, 2018

Virginia GOP dean John Warner endorses Democrats for Congress

By Heidi Przybyla

Former Virginia GOP Sen. John Warner tells NBC News he is endorsing several Democrats for Congress in 2018, including Abigail Spanberger, who is challenging GOP Rep. Dave Brat in Virginia’s seventh congressional district. Now is the time to rise above politics, Warner, a dean of the Virginia Republican Party, told NBC News. “It goes beyond politics now. I’m a Republican, I’ll finish a Republican as I cruise through my 91st year. But you’ve got to put the nation’s interests and the state’s interests ahead of politics,” Warner told NBC in a phone interview.

 

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CNBC logo

| November 1, 2018

After nearly 50 years of Republican control, this Virginia House district could flip to the Democrats

By Christina Wilkie

CNBC met another kind of Republican, named Dave. He said he voted for President Donald Trump in 2016 but will vote for Brat’s Democratic opponent, retired CIA operative Abigail Spanberger, in Tuesday’s election. “But I don’t think people in Washington, D.C., care about anyone outside Washington, D.C.,” Dave said. “Nobody gives a darn about anything else. So I’m voting for Abigail Spanberger, ’cause she seems like she’s actually gonna do something. And I’ll tell you what, if I were a richer man, I’d donate some money to her candidacy.”

 

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Congressional candidate Abigail Spanberger had a brilliant comeback to her GOP opponent constantly calling her Nancy Pelosi pic.twitter.com/RssrnOKyJ6

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) October 19, 2018

Richmond Times-DispatchRichmond Times-Dispatch

| October 25, 2018

Watch candidates answer three questions from the Times-Dispatch editorial board

By RTD Editorial Board

The Times-Dispatch editorial board invited candidates in the Virginia race for the U.S. Senate, as well the House of Representative races in the 1st, 4th and 7th districts. Below are the interviews with the candidates who accepted the invitations.

 

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MSNBC

| October 18, 2018

While speaking to inmates at a local jail, Virginia Republican Congressman Dave Brat complains his life is “tough”- in part, because of the political race he’s in. His Democratic challenger Abigail Spanberger joins Lawrence.

WTVR

| October 16, 2018

Dave Brat, Abigail Spanberger spar over health care and GOP tax cuts

By Jake Burns

“We have insurers that are leaving our areas, leaving our residents, particularly in the rural areas, without options. That’s why I support a public option,” said Spanberger. “The public option I support is called the Medicare X Choice Act.”

 

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Roll Call Logo

| October 15, 2018

At Debate, Spanberger Reminds Brat He’s Not Running Against Pelosi

By Griffin Connolly

But Spanberger has said at least three times since July that she would “under no circumstances” vote for Pelosi to remain the House Democrats’ leader if she defeats Brat in November. She told USA Today that “time and time again” she has been forced to counter Brat’s claim to the contrary.

 

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Huffington Post

| October 4, 2018

Over 100 Democrats Want The Next Congress To Prioritize Anti-Corruption Reforms

By Daniel Marans

In a conference call with reporters Thursday, Spanberger, who has pledged not to accept corporate PAC money, said diminishing the power of money in politics is about restoring trust, regardless of policy outcomes.

 

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Chesterfield Observer

| October 3, 2018

All eyes are on Chesterfield in the 7th District race

By Rich Griset and Jim McConnell

Based on the polls, political analysts are now calling the race a toss-up, a surprising development for a district that was considered rock-ribbed Republican not long ago. Between the backlash against President Donald Trump and Chesterfield’s increasingly diverse population, conditions may be right for Democrats to eke out a victory.

 

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Roll Call Logo

| October 2, 2018

Brat Supporter’s Death Threat to Spanberger Reappears on Facebook Page

By Griffin Connolly

“Throughout this campaign, we have seen the worst of politics, including threats online and in person at our office and home, fake campaign signs meant to misrepresent and confuse voters, and of course the release of my personal National Security Questionnaire,” Spanberger said in a statement Tuesday.

 

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Washington PostWashington Post

| October 1, 2018

Rep. Dave Brat backs out of second debate, Democratic opponent says

By Laura Vozzella

The two teams had privately agreed to a second debate, to take place Oct. 25 at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, with the local CBS affiliate planning to air it, Spanberger’s campaign said. Brat’s campaign pulled back from the Richmond event late last week, saying that it will decide whether to participate in a second debate only after the first one takes place.

 

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Washington PostWashington Post

| October 1, 2018

Obama endorses three Democrats running for Congress in Virginia

By Laura Vozzella

Obama gave the nod to Democrats Abigail Spanberger, Jennifer T. Wexton and Elaine Luria, who are all seeking to unseat Republican incumbents. Spanberger, who is challenging Rep. Dave Brat (R) in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, also received former vice president Joe Biden’s endorsement Monday.

 

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Roll Call Logo

| September 25, 2018

Poll: Challenger Spanberger Inches Ahead of Rep. Dave Brat

By Griffin Connolly

Spanberger captured support from 47 percent of the 400 potential voters pollsters surveyed by phone from Sept. 15 through Sept. 24. Brat garnered 42 percent support among potential voters

 

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Richmond Times-DispatchRichmond Times-Dispatch

| September 23, 2018

Brat faces general election test from well-funded Spanberger

By Patrick Wilson

“We’ve added to the deficit. Estimates [of additional debt] are $1.9 trillion dollars, and that is fiscal mismanagement at an incredulous level,” Spanberger said. “From a background in national security, I have incredible concerns related to who holds our debt. China holds a significant portion of our debt, and our debt continues to grow.”

 

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USA Today

| September 19, 2018

How a CIA veteran-turned-candidate got branded with terrorism claims

By Nicole Gaudiano

How did a former undercover CIA operative who spent more than eight years fighting terrorism get branded as a teacher at “Terror High?” The strange ordeal for Abigail Spanberger, a Democratic House candidate, began when U.S. Postal Service employees wrongly delivered her confidential personnel file to Republican operatives.

 

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CNBC logo

| August 31, 2018

Democratic House candidate Abigail Spanberger suffers the kind of election year smear John McCain would recognize

By John Harwood

Among the distinctions of John McCain’s political life was being targeted by one of the ugliest smear campaigns in memory. Now, courtesy of Republican operatives tied to House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Democratic House candidate is giving the late Arizona senator competition even as the nation mourns him.

 

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MSNBC

| August 30, 2018

Abigail Spanberger, a Democratic candidate for Congress whose personal security clearance documents were given to a Republican SuperPAC connected to Paul Ryan, talks with Rachel Maddow about unresolved questions about how her information was released and concerns about who else may have been exposed.

Washington PostWashington Post

| August 30, 2018

A security form became a political weapon. We should all be alarmed.

By Washington Post Editorial Board

ANYONE WHO has ever filled out the U.S. government’s Standard Form 86, “Questionnaire for National Security Positions,” can attest that it is intrusive, requiring answers to 136 pages of probing questions about finances, medical history and family. People submit to this because they want to serve the country, often in positions handling classified information.

The use of an SF86 to score points during a congressional campaign is outrageous and worrisome. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate challenging Rep. Dave Brat (R-Va.), filled out the SF86 while applying for positions at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service, and at the CIA. She worked for a time at the postal agency while waiting for her CIA clearance. Then she served as a covert CIA case officer overseas for eight years.

 

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USA Today

| August 23, 2018

Republican playbook for 2018: Tie Democrats to Nancy Pelosi, Medicare for All, and abolishing ICE

By Eliza Collins

Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer, is campaigning as a centrist willing to work across the aisle. In her campaign office in Henrico County, Spanberger rattled off to USA TODAY the list of Democratic policies she’s against: a government-run single-payer health care system, an open border and shuttering U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. And, if Democrats take back the House, Spanberger doesn’t think House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi should become speaker again.

 

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Richmond Times-DispatchRichmond Times-Dispatch

| August 21, 2018

Brat, Spanberger agree to Oct. 15 debate hosted by Culpeper chamber

By Patrick Wilson

U.S. Rep. Dave Brat, R-7th, and Democratic challenger Abigail Spanberger have agreed to a debate on Oct. 15 in Culpeper County.

The 6:30 p.m. debate will be at the Daniel Technology Center at Germanna Community College, 18121 Technology Drive, Culpeper, according to Lorraine Carter, administrative and marketing coordinator with the host, the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce. The debate is free and open to the public, she said.

Spanberger wants more than one debate. Brat campaign manager Katey Price said the Brat campaign is working with the Spanberger campaign on parameters for other debates.

 

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NBC12

| August 15, 2018

Could Virginia’s 7th district turn blue? Hotly contested race a ‘toss-up’

By Allison Norlian

Spanberger has been conducting town halls around the district ever since she announced her campaign. She said in the primary her campaign held 120 events across the district. Spanberger believes her availability, coupled with her background and outlook for the district, helped her earn 73 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary. That strong support is why she believes the district is ready to be flipped to into Democratic hands.

 

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RVA Mag

| August 10, 2018

Dave Brat’s Former Communications Manager Endorses Spanberger, Rejects Brat’s Divisiveness

By David Streever

“It’s important to me that our country tackles these problems together. I want to see someone go to Congress and tackle these problems, and I think that person is Abigail Spanberger.”

 

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New York TimesNew York Times

| August 9, 2018

In Virginia, Women Form an Insurgency to Try to Topple Republican Dave Brat

By Michael Tackett

Abigail Spanberger, a well-credentialed former C.I.A. officer, may make history of a different sort in a district that has been deeply Republican for decades.

For Democrats, Ms. Spanberger’s candidacy represents a test of the breadth and effectiveness of their coalition of newly emboldened female voters aghast at President Trump’s White House tenure — and the ability of fed-up women to build an insurgency of their own.

“I think it is ironic, humorous,” Ms. Spanberger said of Mr. Brat being on the receiving end of a rebellion. “I read it as a cautionary tale of coming into the scene saying you want to do things differently, and not really doing it differently.”

 

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Politico Logo

| August 4, 2018

‘He’s way too conservative’: Freedom Caucus members on the hot seat

By Rachael Bade

Democrat Abigail Spanberger stood on a wooden bench at a vineyard in central Virginia and railed against “the prioritization of ideology over informed decision-making” — a pointed jab at her opponent, House Freedom Caucus member Dave Brat.

Spanberger, a 38-year-old former CIA operative, has barnstormed this traditionally Republican stronghold accusing Brat of putting the Freedom Caucus’ intransigent conservative politics over the needs of constituents, and pitching herself as a pragmatist who could represent them better.

 

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Bloomberg Logo

| July 22, 2018

This Democrat Is Running as the Tough Guy

By Albert R. Hunt

Brat attacks her with Republican boilerplate, as a “radical progressive” who wants to advance a left-wing agenda set by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California. Actually, Spanberger has said that she won’t vote for Pelosi for Speaker if Democrats retake the House, and the ex-spy, who was in domestic law-enforcement before starting her intelligence career, is hardly a radical. Brat shows little interest in debating an opponent who seems to know more about global and local issues than he does.

 

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Washington PostWashington Post

| July 20, 2018

Democrats find not-so-secret weapon in Trump controversies

By Lisa Lerer

Like many of the new Democratic candidates, Spanberger was at least partially motivated to run by Trump’s foreign policy, specifically his early push to pursue a ban on travel from predominantly Muslim countries. This week, Spanberger assailed Trump for his meeting with Putin. But typically, she says, she doesn’t spend much time talking about foreign policy or the president. “What the president has done is he has created a level of uneasiness for many people,” she says. “But I want people to vote for me. It’s not enough to have people vote against Donald Trump.”

 

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Washington Examiner Logo

| July 19, 2018

Virginia Dem voters enraged by Trump’s Putin presser, but healthcare still comes first

By David M. Drucker

Democrat Abigail Spanberger fielded few questions about President Trump’s joint news conference with Russian strongman Vladimir Putin during a Wednesday evening town hall as the former clandestine officer in the CIA campaigned to unseat Republican Rep. Dave Brat.

 

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Cook Political Logo

| July 6, 2018

VA-07: Brat Moves from Lean Republican to Toss Up

By David Wasserman

In June, former undercover CIA operative Abigail Spanberger crushed a well-funded Democratic primary opponent with 73 percent of the vote in an impressive display of grassroots support. Spanberger grew up in Henrico County (the 7th CD) writing a diary in code. As a pragmatic woman with a non-political resume, she could offer a problematic contrast for Brat, a Freedom Caucus member who complained last year about women “in my grill” at town halls.

 

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Chesterfield Observer

| June 20, 2018

Blue heat: Can Spanberger and the Democrats win the red-leaning 7th?

By Rich Griset

Spanberger trounced opponent Dan Ward in last week’s Democratic primary by a whopping 45 points. Her candidacy has already garnered national attention, and as of the last reporting cycle, Spanberger’s campaign had raised almost as much money as her Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Dave Brat.

 

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Richmond Times-DispatchRichmond Times-Dispatch

| June 12, 2018

Abigail Spanberger easily defeats Dan Ward in 7th District Democratic primary

By Patrick Wilson

Former CIA officer Abigail Spanberger handily defeated former Marine pilot Dan Ward on Tuesday in the 7th District Democratic primary, and she will face GOP Rep. Dave Brat this fall in a district that national Democrats have targeted for flipping.

Spanberger got more votes Tuesday than any other candidate on the ballot in Virginia’s House primary races.

 

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ABC News

| June 12, 2018

From a female James Bond to a nuclear engineer, the women running for Congress are intense

By Maryalice Parks

Spanberger’s work as a CIA case officer took her around the world. She developed assets and worked with sources, gathering intelligence to fight terrorism and pursue nuclear nonproliferation.

 

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Chesterfield Observer

| June 6, 2018

The operative: Abigail Spanberger
In race for 7th, Former CIA agent targets Brat

By Rich Griset

Spanberger says she decided to run because she believes Brat and other members of Congress aren’t representing the wishes of their constituents. She cites Republicans’ efforts to gut the Affordable Care Act – also called Obamacare – as a prime example.

“Our representatives in Washington are not serving the needs of the people in their districts, and that’s particularly true for us,” said Spanberger, referencing Brat. “Our congressman has been very driven by ideology. I don’t think he makes any bones about that.”

 

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MSNBC

| May 27, 2018

Abigail Spanberger joined MSNBC‘s Kasie Hunt to discuss her grassroots campaign to defeat Congressman Brat.

Richmond Times-DispatchRichmond Times-Dispatch

| May 12, 2018

Abigail Spanberger’s passion for languages led her to the CIA

By Patrick Wilson

Brat “is not showing the leadership that this district needs. He is driven by ideology, and an ideology that is not accomplishing anything in Washington and also an ideology that is out of step with the district,” she said.

Last year, she helped numerous Democratic candidates in the region, among them Debra Rodman, a professor who upset Republican Del. John O’Bannon, R-Henrico. Should Spanberger become the Democratic nominee this year for Congress, she wants to offer alternative ideas to flip the district. She predicts that the 7th will, indeed, flip come November and wants to run up a big margin. “We need to change the conversation in Washington,” she said.

 

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RVA Mag

| May 3, 2018

Former CIA Agent Abigail Spanberger is on a mission for Virginia’s 7th District

By Landon Shroder

When asked about making the jump from intelligence professional to civilian politics, former CIA agent and Democratic primary candidate for Virginia’s 7th District, Abigail Spanberger, had a very distinct answer. “My whole role was to become a subject matter expert on a variety of different topics at a variety of different times.” As an intelligence professional, Spanberger had to use her analytical skills to cover issues like nuclear mitigation, science, technology, and narco-trafficking.

 

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Chesterfield Observer

| May 2, 2018

In 7th, Democrats talk strategy for Brat race

By Jim McConnell

“My belief is that the tone of the country and the tone of the region has changed, and that gives a particular kind of Democrat an opportunity. Spanberger is that type of Democrat. She has some potential for crossover appeal,” longtime Richmond political analyst Bob Holsworth said.

 

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AM1380

| April 20, 2018

Speaking in Spanish, Abigail Spanberger discusses the campaign and issues impacting the 7th with hosts Abogado Pablo Fantl and Oscar Contreras on Radio Poder 1380

 

 

 

EMILY's List

| April 19, 2018

Abigail Spanberger was featured in the latest ad from EMILY’s List.

 

 

 

WTVR

| April 19, 2018

Thursday, Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat running in the 7th District race for the chance to face Republican Rep. Dave Brat, stopped by the studio.

 

 

 

CNN

| April 18, 2018

These former intel professionals are running for office to check Trump

By Annie Grayer

Abigail Spanberger, who served in the CIA for eight years and is one of the top Democratic candidates for her primary race in Virginia’s 7th District, said she finds the political climate “stunning.”

“I find it incredibly detrimental to our long-term stability and security that the President would actively work to undermine the credibility of our intelligence community and our law enforcement community.”

 

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CNN

| April 18, 2018

Democratic House candidates hold fundraising edge after 1st quarter

By David Wright

Meanwhile, Rep. Dave Brat’s opponent in VA-07, Abigail Spanberger, outraised him by nearly $100,000.

 

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The Washington TimesThe Washington Times

| April 10, 2018

Virginia Rep. Dave Brat’s Democratic rivals amass solid war chests in primary campaign

By Seth McLaughlin

Abigail Spanberger announced Tuesday that she has pulled in $338,000 since the beginning of the year, bringing her fundraising total to over $700,000 and leaving her with $475,000 in the bank a couple months out from her June 12 primary race

 

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Washington PostWashington Post

| April 9, 2018

He scored a political upset that shocked Washington. But is it Rep. Dave Brat’s turn for a shock?

By Paul Schwartzman

Ominous signs include Republican Ed Gillespie capturing only 51 percent of the district in the 2017 gubernatorial race. And Democrats for the first time since 1961 carried Chesterfield County, a large chunk of the district where demographic shifts have pushed the electorate leftward.

 

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Glamour

| March 28, 2018

Why These Two Former Female CIA Agents Are Running for Office

By Caitlin Moscatello

Spanberger, 38, a Democrat, is looking to unseat Rep. Dave Brat, a Republican and member of the Freedom Caucus. She had spent months exploring a potential run, but Brat’s vote to repeal Obamacare last May pushed her over the edge, even if it meant she’d have to talk publicly about a part of her life she’d shared only with her husband, parents, and sisters. “I knew that once those three letters, CIA, came out of my mouth, I could never go back.”

 

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Washington PostWashington Post

| February 23, 2018

Emily’s List backs Democrat Abigail Spanberger in race to challenge Rep. Dave Brat

By Jenna Portnoy

Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA agent running for the nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Dave Brat of Virginia, has picked up a key endorsement from Emily’s List, the advocacy group that backs female candidates who support abortion rights.

 

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Washington PostWashington Post

| February 10, 2018

Election contrast in the Trump era: Republican pugilists vs. Democratic pacifiers

By Michael Scherer

“People say we just need decency, and Trump doesn’t represent decency,” she said of the people she has met at house parties in the district. “So many of us are running because we believe that. Though it will not be easy to change the culture of Washington, just changing the tenor will positively impact the conversations.”

 

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MSNBC

| January 30, 2018

Abigail Spanberger joined MSNBC‘s Katy Tur to discuss why she’s running for Congress. “What I’d like to bring to Washington is leadership that listens to the people in their districts and provides representation to the constituents back home.”

 

 

 

| January 18, 2018

A Year Ago, They Marched. Now a Record Number of Women Are Running for Office

By Charlotte Alter

Weeks later, Spanberger recalls, she heard something unusual on her baby monitor. Her 2-year-old was chanting, “Love not hate makes America great!” from her crib.

 

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Full Disclosure | January 15, 2018

The Hunt for Blue November

By Roben Farzad

“I’m not running against Trump, I’m running to represent this district.” – Abigail Spanberger

 

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