By Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger

Back in November 2023, I announced that I was running to serve as the next governor of Virginia — and I promised to work hard to earn the support and trust of all Virginians. I asked Virginians in every corner of our Commonwealth to share their concerns, ideas, and aspirations for how our state government can be more effective and more accountable.

Not long after launching, I traveled to Radford, Wytheville and Tazewell to hear directly from Virginians, whether at coffee shops or breweries. I spoke with families and students in Roanoke, Radford and Blacksburg. And I promised that I would keep showing up.

Earlier this month, I finished my final term in the U.S. House of Representatives. This past weekend, I hit the road across our beautiful Commonwealth — traveling 500 miles as I spent time in communities across Southwest Virginia, Southside Virginia and the Roanoke and New River valleys.

And once again, I saw what makes our Commonwealth — the place I was raised and where I’m raising my own children — so special.

I met Virginians over barbecue in Galax, between high-top tables at breweries in Bristol and Danville, inside small businesses in Pulaski and Roanoke, amid folding chairs at a community center in Bedford, and under the skeleton of a 140 million-year-old dinosaur at the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville.

In Marion, I met with young Virginians who are training to be the next generation of doctors, nurses and medical staff. Shoulder to shoulder in a packed room in Blacksburg, Virginians came out to have meaningful conversations about public education, infrastructure, and mental health services. And in Norton in far Southwest Virginia, neighbors of all ages spent their Saturday morning asking me questions about how I can help address the challenges facing their families and their community.

And while each locality is unique, Virginians share many of the same concerns. Throughout the weekend, I heard from parents who are concerned about their kids’ ability to receive a high-quality public education that puts them on the path to success. I heard from community members who are concerned about jobs that might not be available in the next five or 10 years — and whether new employers will prioritize hiring local workers.

I heard from families who are feeling more and more strain on their wallets — at the grocery store or pharmacy counter. And I heard from young people who don’t know if they’ll ever be able to buy their own house or find a rental that meets their needs and fits their budget. In this moment of intense uncertainty, Virginians want to know that their future is secure.

In Congress, I focused on bringing people together to get things done for Virginians. As Virginia’s next Governor, I want to do the same — focus on addressing the real challenges I hear about from all Virginians, no matter their ZIP code.

Many of the Virginians I spoke with this past weekend told me that right now, they don’t feel heard in Richmond. They don’t feel like they have a seat at the decision-making table. We need to change that. My vision for the future of our Commonwealth has always been — and will always be — guided by those who call it home.

Throughout my time in Congress, I served as the only Virginian on the Agriculture Committee — representing the interests of our rural communities and Virginia’s number-one private industry, agriculture. I worked to make sure the voices of farmers, producers, and families in rural communities were heard in Washington. For five years in a row, I was ranked the most bipartisan lawmaker from Virginia and one of the most bipartisan Members of Congress in the country — not merely a talking point, but evidence of my approach to governing. I’ll always work to find common ground and build coalitions, because that’s how you get things done.

When I’m out meeting Virginians, I’m not focused on hitting a quota of campaign stops to tout. I’m focused on hearing directly from those I’m asking to serve. I want to know how Virginians believe we can work together to make sure our Commonwealth remains the best place to live, work, and raise a family — and I will continue to make sure Virginians across Southwest Virginia, Southside Virginia, and the Roanoke and New River Valleys are part of that conversation.

Every one of Virginia’s communities has a story to tell — we just need to take the time to listen.