SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — As part of her case to be Virginia’s next governor, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger is laying out a an economic plan that forwards Democratic Party priorities while also keeping initiatives being carried out by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Spanberger read through highlights of her plan Tuesday during a press event at Tidewater Community College’s Center for Workforce Solutions in north Suffolk. It follows previous campaign stops made surrounding other aspects of her platform.
“My plan is built on three central pillars: growing Virginia’s exceptional workforce. … A second pillar is growing businesses and economic investment in Virginia, and third is growing Virginia’s trade opportunity,” Spanberger said. “All three of these pillars rest on the same foundation, Virginia’s world-class talent.”
Spanberger explained her desire to align workforce training with K-12 schools, community colleges and four year colleges promoting programs. Youngkin signed an executive order in 2023 aimed at eliminating roadblocks to accomplishing the same goal.
Spanberger also touts an initiative to “strengthen the Virginia Business Ready
Sites Program and related efforts to support statewide site development.” It’s another priority the two have in common.
Tuesday when answering questions from reporters, Spanberger didn’t say she’d join the governor’s war on NIMBY, but hinted she didn’t oppose tying economic development grants to housing initiatives.
“I think it’s important to continue with a variety of different incentives,” Spanberger said. “If and when Virginia is going to give incentives, which I think is among the many strategies for an enticing investment or growing investment within the Commonwealth, that … in making those investments and giving those incentives, recognizing some of the needs of our communities, particularly as it relates to housing, is important.”
The three-term congresswoman made a name for being a moderate in House of Representatives, at times bucking her own party leaders.
However, her plan to grow Virginia’s economy calls for raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, utilizing project labor agreements for large state-funded projects and guaranteed paid sick leave.
Youngkin has vetoed legislation that would have put those initiatives into place.
Spanberger’s Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, attacked the plan on X (formally Twitter.)
“Under Spendberger and Biden, the average Virginia family paid THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE every month just to tread water,” Sears said. “Groceries, gas, rent—all up. Savings? Gone. Credit card debt — historic. Inflation? The highest in recent history … So, when you hear Abigail Spendberger tout her “plan,” remember why you skipped vacations. Why you drained your savings. Why you told your kid “not this month.” Because politicians like Abigail got too comfortable spending your money.”
