Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) launched her first unfavorable advert in Virginia’s gubernatorial race on Thursday, hitting Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) over her response to the Trump administration’s federal workforce cuts.
The 30-second spot, titled “Real Issues,” opens with a clip of Earle-Sears declining to handle the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) cuts in Virginia throughout a CNN interview final week.
“Oh, OK. If that is the best way you need to go, then go forward. I’m simply not going to take part, as a result of I need to speak about actual points,” Earle-Sears stated when requested if she helps Trump’s purge of the federal workforce.
The spot wraps with a narrator stating “It’s an actual subject that Sears helps Trump, not Virginians.”
Virginia Democrats have sought to tie the state’s Republicans to Trump’s federal workforce cuts, which have had a big influence all through the state given its shut proximity to Washington, D.C., and huge navy inhabitants.
Earle-Sears and Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) have, in flip, centered on job development in Virginia’s non-public sector throughout the Youngkin administration.
The advert additionally comes days after Trump stated he “would” endorse Earle-Sears, however appeared to cease wanting giving her a full endorsement.
“I feel most likely, yeah, she’s bought a troublesome race. She shouldn’t, she shouldn’t, as a result of the candidate she’s operating in opposition to just isn’t excellent, however I feel she’s bought a troublesome race,” Trump instructed reporters on Sunday.
The medical updates Choice Desk HQ (DDHQ) polling common exhibits Spanberger main Earle-Sears within the race 45.2 % to 36 %. The nonpartisan Cook dinner Political Report charges the race as “lean Democratic.”