Abigail Spanberger Vows to Reject Collaboration With Trump Amid Virginia Gubernatorial Race

By Michael Katz | Friday, 31 October 2025 06:01 PM EDT

Democratic Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger declared she would refuse to collaborate with President Donald Trump if elected, citing his alleged “attack on the federal workforce” as a reason. In an interview with “PBS NewsHour,” Spanberger criticized Trump’s policies, comparing him to an “arsonist who burns down the house to rebuild it.” She argued that Trump’s administration, which faced scrutiny for reducing federal government spending and contributing to a recent shutdown that left workers unpaid, was unfit to lead economic recovery efforts in Virginia.

When asked if she would work with Trump on job creation, Spanberger stated, “You don’t work with the arsonist who burns down the house to rebuild it.” The statement echoed criticism from her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who accused Spanberger of prioritizing animosity toward Trump over Virginians’ interests. Earle-Sears wrote on X, “When your hatred for President Trump outweighs your love for Virginians… you’re not fit for office,” and added that she would collaborate with anyone to strengthen the state’s economy.

Polling data from RealClearPolitics and InsiderAdvantage/Trafalgar Group indicates Spanberger leads by 7.4 percentage points and 4 points, respectively, ahead of Tuesday’s election.