Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast The National Stakes Of The Virginia Governor's Race
Nov 4, 2025
Markus Schmidt, a seasoned Virginia politics reporter, dives deep into the dynamics of the Virginia governor's race. He explains how the contest is shaping up as a referendum on Trump, highlighting polling trends favoring Democrats. Schmidt discusses affordability as a key campaign theme and analyzes Winsome Earle-Sears's controversial ad strategies focusing on parental rights. The conversation also touches on the impact of an attorney general scandal on Abigail Spanberger's campaign and the implications of a redistricting constitutional amendment.
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Virginia As A Presidential Referendum
- Virginia's gubernatorial race functions as a referendum on President Trump when his party holds the White House.
- Historically, the party opposite the president usually wins Virginia's governor's race the next year.
Affordability Framed As A National Issue
- Democrats tie affordability concerns to Trump's policies and tax cuts in campaign messaging.
- Both Obama and Abigail Spanberger framed economic pain as benefiting billionaires at ordinary families' expense.
Trump's Omission Signals Strained Ties
- Trump's failure to name the gubernatorial candidate indicates personal and political tensions with Winsome Earle-Sears.
- That omission signals a weakened relationship which may hurt Sears' campaign momentum.