The Republican Governors Association waded into the Virginia gubernatorial race this week with the announcement that the group is pouring $1.5 million into Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears‘s (R-VA) gubernatorial campaign against former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger.
In total, the RGA will have invested $5 million into the race, matching the $5 million the Democratic Governors Association has poured into flipping the Virginia governor’s mansion blue.
Recommended Stories
- Spanberger deflects questions of Jones's texts as Republicans see momentum
- Porter threatens to walk out of interview over follow-up questions on California Trump voters
- Stefanik polls closer than expected to Hochul ahead of anticipated gubernatorial run
The RGA investment comes as the GOP slams Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones over violent text messages he sent, suggesting former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert should receive “two bullets to the head,” and wishing death on Gilbert’s children.
Spanberger denounced the text messages but has not pushed for Jones to resign from the race, as Republicans have pressured Democrats to abandon Jones.
JAY JONES’S VIOLENT TEXT MESSAGES IN VIRGINIA BLEED INTO THE NATIONAL DEBATE
“It’s clearer now than ever that this race isn’t about Republicans versus Democrats. It’s common sense versus violence,” said Peyton Vogel, a spokeswoman for the Earle-Sears campaign, who told Politico, which first reported the news, in a statement. “The RGA understands what’s at stake here in Virginia, and their support will help us stand strong against Abigail Spanberger’s ticket of rage.”
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is seeking reelection, also announced this week that he is spending $1.5 million on an ad campaign highlighting Jones’s texts.
Jones reportedly canceled a Thursday night fundraiser as the controversy over his comments continues to grow.
Earle-Sears has already begun to attack Spanberger in recent ads over the Jones scandal, and is blaming Democrats for encouraging political violence that helped lead to the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
But the lieutenant governor still faces a tough path to succeeding Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA). She trails Spanberger by 8.6 points according to a RealClearPolitics poll composite. Early voting had already begun in the commonwealth before the Jones text messages were revealed.
Spanberger has spent months tying Earle-Sears to President Donald Trump’s efforts to slash the federal workforce, which makes up a sizable portion of Virginia’s population. The federal shutdown and the administration’s threats to lay off thousands of workers or withhold backpay could help the Democratic candidate bolster her argument that the Old Dominion is in need of new leadership.
“President Trump is punishing Virginians for his own refusal to work in good faith to end this shutdown,” Spanberger said in a statement on Tuesday. Withholding backpay would do nothing to strengthen our country — and would be a further attack on Virginians’ livelihoods.
Last month, Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia changed the rating of the gubernatorial race from “leans Democratic” to “likely Democratic.”
Trump waded into the Virginia statewide races on Sunday when he endorsed Miyares for reelection. But he notably remained silent on endorsing Earle-Sears, even as she attended a speech he gave celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Navy in Norfolk, Virginia.
SPANBERGER TRIES TO REDIRECT ATTENTION AS REPUBLICANS POUNCE ON MOMENTUM AFTER JONES’S TEXTS
Yet the infusion from the RGA into the race suggests the GOP sees an opening to retain control in Virginia over the Jones debacle.
Spanberger and Earle-Sears are set to meet on the debate stage on Thursday at Norfolk State University, where questions about Jones will be a prominent part of the discussion.