ARLINGTON, Va. Only two states, Virginia and New Jersey, hold their elections for governor the year after the presidential election and the year before the midterms. The races are often seen as a test of voter sentiment, but just weeks out from the election, two late-emerging issues in Virginia may be reshaping that state's contest. Abigail Spanberger, a former member of Congress, is the Democratic candidate, and Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican candidate, is the commonwealth's current lieutenant governor.
Spanberger: My opponent has previously said that she does not think that gay couples should be allowed to marry. Earle-Sears interrupted: That's not discrimination. Spanberger continued: [Earle-Sears] said that she is morally opposed to same-sex marriage. Earle-Sears added again: That's not discrimination. Spanberger: My opponent has also previously said that she thinks it's okay for someone to be fired from their job for being gay. That is discrimination. Earle-Sears: That's not discrimination.
"How radical is Abigail Spanberger?" a voice says at the start of the 30-second spot. "She didn't just vote to let men in girls' locker rooms. She wrote the bill. Spanberger believes this man has the right to undress next to little girls, but it gets worse. If a child wants to change genders, Spanberger says the parents shouldn't be told. That's insane."
