Overview

• Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears trails Democrat Abigail Spanberger by nearly 7 points in early polls, raising concerns for the GOP.
• Virginia Republicans opted for unopposed primaries, leaving candidates like Earle-Sears and others without crucial vetting or testing.
• Earle-Sears’s campaign has faced criticism for sluggish fundraising, controversial remarks on DEI, and strained intra-party relations.
• Donald Trump’s unpopularity in Virginia, where he has lost three consecutive statewide elections, remains a significant liability for GOP candidates.
• Abigail Spanberger, running unopposed for the Democratic nomination, is focusing her campaign on protecting reproductive rights, Medicaid, and LGBTQ rights.