Spanberger Vows Not to Work With Trump if Elected Governor

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

Democratic Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger stated that if elected Tuesday, she would refuse to collaborate with President Donald Trump. During an appearance on “PBS NewsHour,” Spanberger criticized Trump for his alleged “attack on the federal workforce,” citing efforts by the Trump administration to reduce government spending and the recent shutdown that left federal employees unpaid.

When asked by PBS reporter Liz Landers if she would work with Trump on job creation, Spanberger responded, “You don’t work with the arsonist who burns down the house to rebuild it.” She argued that Trump, whom she described as responsible for targeting federal workers, was unfit to lead Virginia’s economic recovery.

Spanberger’s remarks drew criticism from her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who accused her of prioritizing hatred for Trump over Virginians’ interests. “When your hatred for President Trump outweighs your love for Virginians… you’re not fit for office,” Earle-Sears wrote on X. She added that as governor, 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 and 4 percentage points, respectively, ahead of Tuesday’s election.