Spanberger, Earle-Sears spar in lone VA debate
In the lone Virginia debate at Norfolk State University, Republican Winsome Earle-Sears repeatedly interrupted Democrat Abigail Spanberger—leading moderators to cut microphones—and the pair sparred sharply over aggressive rhetoric and the federal government shutdown, with the economy largely an afterthought. The candidates clashed over whether AG nominee Jay Jones should withdraw (Spanberger condemned his texts but declined to say he must quit, saying voters should decide) and over transgender policies and Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s new directive on bathrooms and athletic teams (Earle-Sears vowed to uphold it while Spanberger said such decisions should be made locally and emphasized student safety, adding “There should never be nude men in locker rooms”).
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📌 Key Facts
- The lone Virginia debate was held at Norfolk State University and featured repeated interruptions by Winsome Earle-Sears; moderators ultimately cut off microphones during the heated exchanges.
- Moderators Deanna Albrittin and Tom Schaad repeatedly pressed Abigail Spanberger on whether AG nominee Jay Jones should drop out over violent/abusive texts; Spanberger condemned the texts as "abhorrent" and denounced political violence but declined to call for his resignation, saying such decisions are up to voters.
- Winsome Earle-Sears aggressively pressed Spanberger on the Jones matter, escalated the exchange (asking if it would take Jones "pulling the trigger"), called Spanberger a "liar," said she "should have stayed in Congress," and accused her of lacking courage.
- On transgender policies and school safety, moderators asked whether transgender girls should use girls’ bathrooms and play on girls’ teams; Earle-Sears pledged she would not rescind Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s recent executive directive keeping bathrooms/locker rooms separated by sex assigned at birth and barring biological males from female athletic teams, and accused Spanberger of supporting "men nude in girls’ locker rooms."
- Spanberger declined to say whether she would rescind Youngkin’s directive, said such decisions should be handled locally by parents and educators, emphasized student safety and her child-protection background, cited an endorsement from the Police Benevolent Association, and said, "There should never be nude men in locker rooms."
- The debate also prominently featured clashes over the federal government shutdown and violent rhetoric, with the economy described by participants and observers as an afterthought.
📚 Contextual Background
- In Virginia, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run for and are elected to their offices separately rather than on a single ticket.
📰 Sources (4)
Candidates in Virginia governor’s debate clash over government shutdown, violent rhetoric
New information:
- Debate was held at Norfolk State University and featured repeated interruptions by Earle-Sears, with moderators ultimately cutting off microphones.
- Spanberger declined to say whether AG nominee Jay Jones should quit over his violent texts, saying it is up to voters, while condemning political violence.
- Earle-Sears pressed Spanberger repeatedly on Jones, called her a 'liar,' said she 'should have stayed in Congress,' and accused her of lacking courage.
- The exchange prominently featured clashes over the federal government shutdown and violent rhetoric, with the economy described as an afterthought.
‘Nude men in locker rooms’: Earle-Sears blasts Spanberger over transgender locker room stance in heated debate
New information:
- Winsome Earle-Sears pledged she would not rescind Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive directive keeping bathrooms/locker rooms separated by sex assigned at birth and barring biological males from female athletic teams.
- Abigail Spanberger declined to say whether she would rescind the directive, saying such decisions should be made locally by parents and educators rather than by politicians.
- Spanberger stated, 'There should never be nude men in locker rooms,' after repeated prodding from Earle-Sears.
- The article reiterates Youngkin issued the executive directive earlier this month.
Earle-Sears comes out swinging in heated debate as Spanberger dodges Jay Jones questions
New information:
- Moderators Deanna Albrittin and Tom Schaad repeatedly pressed Spanberger for a yes-or-no answer on whether AG nominee Jay Jones should drop out; Spanberger condemned the texts as “abhorrent” but did not directly say he should leave the race.
- Earle-Sears escalated the Jones exchange, asking whether it would take Jones “pulling the trigger” for Spanberger to take a firmer stance.
- On transgender policies, moderators asked Spanberger whether transgender girls should use girls’ bathrooms and play on girls’ teams; Spanberger emphasized student safety and her child-protection background, while Earle-Sears said Spanberger “voted for men nude in girls’ locker rooms.”
- Spanberger cited an endorsement from the Police Benevolent Association during her response on school safety and transgender policy.
- Earle-Sears criticized Spanberger for allegedly delaying condemnation of a racist sign at an Arlington anti-trans sports protest that Earle-Sears attended.
- Moderators asked Earle-Sears about the extent of Trump’s endorsement and asked Spanberger about potentially rescinding Gov. Youngkin’s bathroom policy executive order; Youngkin’s policies were a specific point of contrast.