Spanberger, Earle-Sears spar in lone VA debate
At a lone debate held at Norfolk State University, GOP Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears repeatedly pressed and interrupted Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger over AG nominee Jay Jones’ inflammatory texts and over transgender bathroom and athletics policies, at times prompting moderators to cut microphones. Spanberger condemned the texts but refused to call for Jones to quit, stressed student safety and local decision‑making on Gov. Youngkin’s bathroom directive while citing a police endorsement, and was sharply accused by Earle‑Sears—who pledged to uphold Youngkin’s directive and cited FOIA emails about a sex offender’s locker‑room access—of supporting unsafe policies; Democrats, including House Speaker Don Scott Jr., defended Spanberger after the clash.
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📌 Key Facts
- The lone Virginia debate between Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears was held at Norfolk State University, featured repeated interruptions by Earle‑Sears (moderators ultimately cut microphones), and included prominent clashes over the federal government shutdown and violent rhetoric, with the economy described as an afterthought.
- Moderators Deanna Albrittin and Tom Schaad repeatedly pressed Spanberger for a yes‑or‑no answer on whether Attorney General nominee Jay Jones should drop out over violent texts; Spanberger condemned the texts as “abhorrent,” said it was up to voters and did not directly call for him to leave the race, while Earle‑Sears pressed her aggressively (including asking if it would take Jones “pulling the trigger” for her to act) and at times called her a “liar” and accused her of lacking courage.
- On transgender policies and school safety, 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; Spanberger declined to say she would rescind the directive, argued such decisions should be made locally by parents and educators, and—after prodding—said “There should never be nude men in locker rooms.”
- Fox‑reported FOIA requests (via ABC7/WJLA) produced emails showing Arlington Public Schools board member Kathleen Clark received a detailed Oct. 25, 2024 message from registered sex offender Richard Kenneth “Riki” Cox about access to the Washington‑Liberty pool locker rooms; Arlington confirmed its policy allows facility use consistent with gender identity and said Superintendent Francisco Durán took corrective action once officials realized a sex offender had been on school property, adding the district did not “knowingly admit a sex offender” to its aquatics facilities.
- Legal and enforcement context: Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano previously declined to prosecute Cox in a separate matter, while Arlington arrested him in 2024; Cox had court proceedings in October 2025.
- Earle‑Sears used the FOIA emails to press Spanberger for a clearer stance on transgender bathroom/locker‑room policies and alleged Cox had used girls’ locker rooms, while Fox News reported it asked Spanberger for a position on allowing transgender females to use women’s facilities but did not receive a response.
- After the debate, Virginia House Speaker Don Scott Jr. acted as an official surrogate for Spanberger—defending her refusal to demand Jones withdraw, invoking past comments about Liz Cheney to push back on critics, calling Earle‑Sears’ debate conduct “not the Virginia way,” and urging supporters (including from the pulpit of a predominantly Black church) to dismiss coverage of the Jones texts as a distraction.
📚 Contextual Background
- Furloughed federal employees typically return to work and receive back pay once Congress resolves a government shutdown.
- A continuing resolution (CR) is a short-term funding measure used to keep the federal government open temporarily while Congress completes the appropriations process.
📰 Sources (7)
Pressure mounts on VA Dems to clearly state view on trans bathrooms after bombshell emails
New information:
- FOIA requests (via ABC’s Washington affiliate) produced emails showing Arlington Public Schools board member Kathleen Clark received a detailed message from registered sex offender Richard Kenneth 'Riki' Cox about access to the Washington-Liberty pool locker rooms (email dated Oct. 25, 2024).
- Arlington Public Schools confirmed its policy allows facility use consistent with gender identity and said Superintendent Francisco Durán took 'corrective action' once officials realized a sex offender had been on school property, adding APS did not 'knowingly admit a sex offender' to aquatics facilities.
- Fox News said it asked Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger to state her position on policies allowing transgender females to use women’s facilities but did not receive a response.
- Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears issued a statement tying the FOIA emails to her debate criticism, alleging Cox used girls’ locker rooms and asserting Spanberger supports that access; Fairfax County prosecutor Steve Descano previously declined to prosecute Cox in a separate case while Arlington arrested him in 2024, with a court appearance this October.
Pressure mounts on Virginia Dems to clearly state view on trans bathrooms after bombshell emails
New information:
- FOIA requests (via ABC7/WJLA) produced emails showing Arlington school officials received and discussed messages from registered sex offender Richard Kenneth “Riki” Cox about locker‑room access at a semi‑public school aquatic center.
- Arlington Public Schools said Board member Kathleen Clark responded in a private capacity and that Superintendent Francisco Durán took corrective action once officials recognized a sex offender had been on school property, adding, “At no time did we knowingly admit a sex offender into our aquatics facilities.”
- The article reiterates Fairfax County CA Steve Descano previously declined to prosecute Cox for alleged locker‑room offenses, while Arlington arrested him in 2024; Cox has had court proceedings in October 2025.
- Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears used the FOIA emails to press Democrat Abigail Spanberger for a clear stance on transgender bathroom/locker‑room policies; Fox News says Spanberger did not respond to a request for comment.
- Arlington schools’ policy allows facilities use matching gender identity; Cox’s emails argued against being relegated to a single‑user locker room.
Jay Jones scandal looms large over his hometown for Sears–Spanberger clash as area Dems vouch for AG nom
New information:
- Virginia House Speaker Don Scott Jr. acted as an official surrogate for Spanberger after the debate and accused Republicans of a 'double standard' for pressing Spanberger to call for Jay Jones to exit the AG race.
- Scott referenced Donald Trump’s past comments about Liz Cheney to defend Spanberger’s refusal to demand Jones withdraw.
- Scott said Earle-Sears' conduct at the debate was 'not the Virginia way' and criticized media for not waiting until the Jones–Miyares debate at the University of Richmond.
- Ahead of the debate, Scott traveled to Del. Carrie Coyner’s district and, speaking from the pulpit of a predominantly Black church in Hopewell, urged congregants to stay the course and dismissed coverage of Jones’ texts as a distraction.
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.