Virginia’s race for governor has been dominated by economic issues, the government shutdown and the violent text messages sent by the Democratic candidate for attorney general.
But during their only debate this month, Democrat Abigail Spanberger pressed her Republican opponent, Winsome Earle-Sears, over a topic that once dominated Democratic politics: abortion rights.
“In states where they further restricted abortion access, women have died,” Spanberger said. “If my opponent were to become governor, that is what she would inflict upon Virginia.”
In the final weeks of the off-year elections that will set the tone for the 2026 midterms, Democrats are attempting to strike a balance between the party’s current emphasis on affordability and its longtime focus on abortion rights, an issue party strategists credit for helping Democrats in the 2022 midterms but did not have the same resonance in last year’s presidential election.
In Virginia and New Jersey, statewide candidates are highlighting their Republican opponents’ past anti-abortion comments. In Pennsylvania, where three state Supreme Court justices are facing a retention vote, Democrats are pointing to abort
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