Spanberger rejects using Virginia gubernatorial win as shutdown permission
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Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger did not mince words when asked whether Democrats in Congress should view her election and the success of other Democrats last Tuesday as permission to continue the government shutdown.
“Absolutely not,” Spanberger said Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.” “Our victory was based on a campaign that addressed concerns about costs and chaos. My campaign the last two years was based on hearing about the challenges people face all over Virginia.”
DEMOCRATS STRUGGLE FOR COMMON MESSAGING STRATEGY IN CASE OF SHUTDOWN
Abigail Spanberger campaigns in Virginia on June 26, 2025. (Maxine Wallace/Washington Post/Getty Images)
“What is impacting Virginians so severely is the chaos coming from Washington,” he added.
Virginia is home to more than 147,000 public workers, many of whom have gone unpaid since the government shutdown began. That’s the third-highest concentration of public employees in any state, records show. Library of Congress.
Spanberger cruised to victory last week with fellow Democrats in New Jersey, New York City and Democrat-led voting in California. After election night, some viewers suggested that the results reflected social unrest over the government shutdown and tacit endorsement of the Democrats’ stance on the deadlock.
Even President Donald Trump suggested Republicans were underperforming because of the shutdown.
“Last night was not expected to be a victory,” Trump said the morning after the election. “Districts that are very Democratic. I don’t think it’s good for Republicans. I don’t think it’s good for anyone. We had an interesting evening. The shutdown was a big factor; negative for Republicans.”
TRUMP REVERSED THE SHUTDOWN APPROACH, LEAVING CONGRESS TO REMOVE IT.
President Donald Trump speaks with Senate and House Republicans during breakfast in the State Dining Room of the White House on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)
Republicans and Democrats are at odds over how to finance the government as the shutdown, which began on October 1, enters its 40th day. Republicans have put forward a short-term spending bill that would keep the lights on through Nov. 21, but Democrats have blocked those efforts 14 times.
Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DY), have demanded that Congress first talk about expiring COVID-era Obamacare subsidies before considering spending the legislation.
Spanberger opposed that approach and said lawmakers should focus their attention on opening up the government beyond health issues.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries talk to reporters after meeting with President Donald Trump and Republican leaders about the government funding crisis at the Capitol in Washington, Sept. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
“Virginians want to see open government. My expectation is that we’ll see a Congress, a Senate, and ultimately a president lead us in that direction,” Spanberger said. he said. “The government needs to be opened, and it needs to be opened urgently.”
He called on the president to facilitate spending negotiations.
“We need the president to show leadership, to bring people together, to make every effort, before or after, to complete the negotiations,” Spanberger said. he said.
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The Senate will remain in session over the weekend as lawmakers try to overcome gridlock. It’s unclear whether the Senate will vote for a 15th time on Sunday on a new short-term funding extension proposal.
