CANDIDATES FOR VA GOVERNOR VIEWS

  • Cannabis:
  • Winsome Earle Sears (R)
    • Likely ban. In 2021 opposed recreational marijuana legalization as “a gateway drug.” Said, “I’m not against medicinal marijuana.”
    Abigail Spanberger (D)
  • Legal. Says, “We need a formalized, legal, emerging cannabis market.” Voted to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level.
  • Climate Change
  • Winsome Earle Sears (R)
    • Likely no. Has supported offshore oil and gas drilling, and supports an all-the-above energy strategy: “clean coal. Oil… renewables. Nuclear. Natural gas.”
    Abigail Spanberger (D)
  • Yes. Says climate change is a “direct threat” to our future. Supported funding local “climate stewardship” and voted for $369 billion in clean energy investments
  • Gun Rules
  • Winsome Earle Sears (R)
    • Loosen. Said, “Gun control laws infringe on the right to self-defense and deny people a sense of safety. Gun control laws DO NOT deter crime; rather it is gun ownership that deters crime.” Supports a strong Second Amendment.
    Abigail Spanberger (D)
  • Winsome Earle Sears (R)
    • No position found.
    Abigail Spanberger (D)
    • Yes. As governor, would sign legislation to raise the VA minimum wage to $15 an hour.
    • Voting Rules
  • Winsome Earle Sears (R)
    • Harder. Supports new Virginia voter ID requirements and strict vote-by-mail procedures.
    Abigail Spanberger (D)
    • Easier. Voted for the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. “Supports the General Assembly’s work to add a restoration of voting rights amendment to the Virginia Constitution.”
    • Women’s Rights
  • Winsome Earle Sears (R)
    • Ban. Opposes adding reproductive rights to the Virginia constitution. Supports a 15-week ban, after supporting a six-week ban in 2021. Voted against guaranteeing a right to contraception in Virginia law.
    Abigail Spanberger (D)
    • Legal. Supports adding reproductive rights to the Virginia constitution. Supports “the right to choose.” Says, “Congress needs to codify Roe v. Wade as federal law.”
  • Tighten. Said, “As a former federal law enforcement officer, I carried a gun…. I support the Second Amendment. I also believe that commonsense gun safety laws are necessary to curb the gun violence epidemic we are facing today.”
  • Minimum Wage