(UnitedVoice.com) – It was a stunning victory for Democrats when former CIA Officer Abigail Spanberger won the congressional race for Virginia’s District 7. She was the first candidate with a “D” by their name to win the district in 36 years. Now, she’s reportedly leaving Congress, opening the door for the GOP.
On July 28, POLITICO reported Spanberger told members of her party that she is going to run for governor in 2025. According to the report, she has been planning the run for years and laying the foundation to launch her gubernatorial campaign. Sources claimed she and one of her political aides told four members of the party about her intentions.
Two Democratic lawmakers said Spanberger has discussed her plans to run for the office. The former CIA official is a moderate Democrat who has served the district for three years. The seat is largely seen as a must-win for the Left in the next election, especially if they want to take the majority back. Losing their reliable incumbent is bad news for the party. Even worse, she has a gift for fundraising.
The congresswoman could technically run for a fourth term in Congress and then run for governor, but that’s reportedly not her plan. The report stated that she told two Virginia lawmakers that she isn’t going to run for reelection.
Republicans will now have a shot to win the seat back. Currently, the GOP has a slim majority in the House with 222 seats. They will need to keep at least 218 in the next election to maintain their hold on the lower chamber. If they can retain their current seats and take Spanberger’s district back, they can give Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) some breathing room when he’s trying to pass budget-related bills or other legislation. That will also be important if the GOP wins the White House.
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