Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Democratic former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger faced off in the only public debate of Virginia's gubernatorial race on Thursday. The heated exchange at Norfolk State University came days after a texting scandal involving the Democratic nominee for attorney general, Jay Jones.
Spanberger was pressed on whether she still endorsed Jones, who had sent texts discussing “two bullets to the head” of a former Republican speaker and urinating on opponents’ graves. She called the comments “absolutely abhorrent” but declined to call for his withdrawal, saying it was up to voters to decide.
Earle-Sears later challenged Spanberger on transgender athletes in female sports, asking, “Are you going to change in a gym where men are nude in the locker rooms?” Spanberger did not directly answer.
The debate also touched on abortion and other divisive issues. The Virginia contest, along with the New Jersey governor’s race, is seen as a bellwether for national political trends ahead of next month’s election.
In New Jersey, Republican Jack Ciattarelli threatened to sue Democrat Mikie Sherrill after she accused him of complicity in the opioid epidemic during their Wednesday debate. Sherrill claimed Ciattarelli had “killed tens of thousands of people” through his former medical publishing company’s promotion of opioids. Ciattarelli called the charge a “lie” and said his campaign would sue for defamation.
