Rep. Spanberger is working in Congress to increase investment in vocational training and apprenticeship programs for young people that lead to better-paying jobs, support the growth of small businesses in our communities, and prepare the next generation as they enter a competitive and rapidly changing global economy. "As a former CIA officer who worked terrorism cases, I find it particularly disgraceful that they would try and make that some sort of leap or claim when I was in fact a long-term substitute teacher for a bunch of kids, she said in response. She began her career of public service as a federal law enforcement officer working narcotics and money laundering cases with the U.S. Lyndon B. Johnson once had this to say about Gerald Ford: Gerry Ford is so dumb he can't fart and chew gum at the same time. Ford was a congressional leader while Johnson was president. Virginia's fresh faces in Congress, "RESULTS: Nick Freitas squares off against Democratic incumbent Abigail Spanberger in Virginia's 7th Congressional District", "Eric Cantor loses GOP primary to tea party challenger Dave Brat", "Abigail Spanberger becomes the fifth female candidate vying for the Democratic nomination to run against Republican Congressman Dave Brat", "Abigail Spanberger easily defeats Dan Ward in 7th District Democratic primary", "Spanberger wins Democratic primary in Virginia's 7th Congressional District", "Open Secrets breakdown of the 7th District", "Democratic House candidate Abigail Spanberger suffers the kind of election year smear John McCain would recognize", "Virginia's 7th House District Election Results: Dave Brat vs. Abigail Spanberger", "Abigail Spanberger Just Beat Tea Party Darling Dave Brat in Virginia", "After nearly 50 years of Republican control, this Virginia House district could flip to the Democrats", Virginia presidential results by congressional district, "Abigail Spanberger declares victory over Freitas in 7th Congressional District race", "Spanberger criticizes Democrats' strategy in caucus call", "Analysis: This Democratic congresswoman just spoke some hard truth to her party", "Democratic leaders play a ridiculous blame game with progressives", "State of the Union: Interview with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)", "Trump endorses Yesli Vega, Spanberger's GOP challenger", "Virginia Seventh Congressional District Election Results", "SPANBERGER SELECTED TO SERVE ON U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS & U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE", "Peterson Announces House Agriculture Subcommittee Chairs for the 116th Congress", "New Democrat Coalition Inducts 30 Members-Elect and Elects New Leadership", "Democrats Didn't Always Pick The Most Progressive Candidate And That Might Help Them In November", "The moderate squad: swing-state Democrats wary of leftward path", "Virginia congresswoman one of 12 Democrats to oppose Pelosi's bid for speaker", "A look at where Brat and Spanberger stand on the issues", https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3839808-house-gop-passes-bill-to-end-covid-19-national-emergency/, https://projects.propublica.org/represent/votes/118/house/1/104, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/seven-democrats-join-house-gop-lift-vaccine-mandate-healthcare-work, https://projects.propublica.org/represent/votes/118/house/1/98, "Spanberger Pushes for Final Progress on USMCA: "We Need to Get this Done", "Why these Democrats want to make a trade deal with Trump", "In a historically Republican stronghold, Democrat Abigail Spanberger looks to hang on", "Spanberger opposes latest stimulus package, saying it 'goes far beyond pandemic relief', "Spanberger leads bipartisan effort to save 340B Drug Pricing Program", "Pelosi faces pushback over stock trade defense", "Congressman Schiff, Bipartisan Group Introduces Act to Ban Members of Congress & Their Families from Trading Individual Stocks", "Citing Threats to National Security, Representative Elaine Luria, Va.-2, Takes Climate Change Head On", "Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger quizzed on immigration in first town hall", "Seven more lawmakers including six Democrats have signed on to a letter pushing Joe Biden to send F-16 jets to Ukraine", "Spanberger bill aims to shed light on prescription drug pricing", "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index", "Seven freshman Democrats: These allegations are a threat to all we have sworn to protect", "Vulnerable Democrats to vote to impeach Trump", "Trump's Response to Protests Draws Bipartisan Rebuke in Congress", "CIA veterans who monitored crackdowns abroad see troubling parallels in Trump's handling of protests", "George Floyd White House Protest: Donald Trump Acting Like Dictator During Racial Tensions, Intelligence And Defense Officials Warn", "Trump's tear gas photo-op was 'frightening' to authoritarianism experts, who warn that his behavior will only get worse without 'fierce opposition', "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden? Virginia Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger told CNN Friday morning that she spoke with Klain twice in the last two days to discuss the shortage, saying that Klain told her the White House views . examining federal efforts to prevent, detect, and prosecute pandemic relief fraud to safeguard funds for all eligible americans Brat shocked the nation when he defeated sitting House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the Republican primary in 2014. Spanberger faced a close reelection contest against State Delegate Nick Freitas, who represents much of the congressional district's northern portion. "Those are the kinds of stories that people stop to think 'Oh, I have a better commute' or 'Oh, I'm working from home because I have better internet service.' she mused. [67][64], Spanberger opposed Democrats' attempts to amend the Insurrection Act of 1807, saying that amending the rarely used law would not accomplish what Democrats intended. That came after a job in the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division and a stint as a federal prosecutor. [6] In the early 2000s, she was a postal inspector, working on money laundering and narcotics cases. When you put capital in the hands of the American worker, the American worker knows what to do with it, Brat said during their debate. She's since won two more close races and been raised as a possible candidate for Virginia governor. ", Before President George W. Bush was mangling the English language, it was his father, President George H.W. Abigail Spanberger spent almost a decade as a CIA operations officer. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, she is working to make sure Virginia employers and employees are able to recover and succeed. [54][55], Spanberger has called climate change "one of the greatest and most imminent threats to our economy, our national security, and our way of life" and promised to "stand up to attacks against science. March 3, 2023. [10] In 2017, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed her to the Virginia Fair Housing Board. Virginians deserve strong access to quality, affordable health insurance, and Rep. Spanberger is fighting to expand healthcare coverage for everyone. Copyright 2023 NPR. Meet Abigail. In the U.S. House, Abigail serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Agriculture Committee. She was seen as one of the most vulnerable incumbents of the 2022 election cycle, with pre-election polls projecting a close race with Republican nominee Yesli Vega, a law enforcement officer endorsed by Governor Glenn Youngkin and former President Donald Trump. It gave me chills. Even before the attack [], Bipartisan Bill Would Give Borrowers Regular, Pertinent Information Related to Projected Payments, Accrued Interest, & Other Personalized Details WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. On June 2, The Washington Post and The New York Times quoted Spanberger and several other high-profile former CIA analysts' interpretations of Trump's reaction to the protests as reminiscent of the reaction of totalitarian dictators on the brink of losing control of their dictatorships. Abigail Anne Spanberger (ne Davis, August 7, 1979) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Virginia's 7th congressional district since 2019. She supports maintaining federal funding to Planned Parenthood and other providers that provide essential healthcare screenings and preventive services to both women and men. Fool me you can't get fooled again.. Now, shes a third-term Virginia congresswoman who was just named to one of two committees that oversees the work of U.S. spy agencies. She is working in the U.S. House to find additional ways to support military families as their loved ones serve abroad and as they eventually transition to civilian life. Send GMA your Why It Matters video about which issues inspires you to vote and explore our midterms coverage. As Rep. Spanberger meets with families, patients, providers, and community healthcare organizations across Virginias Seventh District; she repeatedly hears about the financial struggles facing seniors, families, and those with chronic conditions as their prescription drug costs continue to rise. Abigail Spanberger, a congressional candidate, had a 12-year career with the CIA. "[62] Spanberger later announced that she would vote in favor of impeachment. She's running unopposed in her party for a third term, and there will be no. Spanberger, who has also worked for the U.S. Abigail Rindo at King. "That's why the big job in front of us is implementing the laws we passed, so people start to see it in their lives all the benefits that are there because you produced it for them.". [2], Spanberger defeated Republican incumbent Dave Brat in 2018, ending the Republican Party's 36-year hold on the district. Abigail Spanberger ( Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Virginia's 7th Congressional District. The daughter of a nurse and a federal law enforcement officer who also served in the Army, she says she was drawn to national service and the idea of learning new languages and cultures. She added that it "degrades the value of the conversation if we're not actually talking about what the real concern is. [43], Spanberger voted to allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be notified when undocumented immigrants attempt to purchase firearms, and voted against the House budget in summer 2019 because it failed to acknowledge the growing national debt. You can't be. It may not be having the Cabinet or the president in your district every other week," New Hampshire Rep. Ann Kuster told NPR. I hope that helps me do my job better. Note that the salary index for a given time period does not necessarily reflect exactly who is on staff at the present time. [20], In a visit to the district, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon described it as "an absolute bellwether of the entire country", adding that losing the district would mean the GOP losing control of the House. If your intention was to visit my official House of Representatives website, please, Checks payable to "Spanberger for Congress". "I think he's the most progressive president we've had in a long time," she added. Ronald Reagan had this to say to a room full of logging industry officials when he was running for governor of California in 1966: A tree is a tree. But as a former spy for the Central Intelligence Agency, her life has been anything but typical. The Virginia Democrat and former CIA officer won reelection in a race that was considered a toss-up. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), a former CIA case officer and one of a bevy of national security-savvy freshmen Democrats, took to the House floor last Tuesday as part of a bipartisan group. Charlotte McWilliams met Spanberger when they were trainee officers before going to the CIA's academy in rural Virginia known as The Farm. They were both sent on to overseas postings Spanberger in Europe, McWilliams in Africa and bonded over their shared experiences doing clandestine work while becoming new mothers at the same time. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Send GMA your Why It Matters video about which issues inspires you to vote. It's like it was like Special Olympics, or something." I spoke with White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain yesterday and today about the urgency of this shortage. On November 5, days after winning reelection by a margin of 1.8%,[27] Spanberger criticized the Democratic Party's strategy for the 2020 elections in a phone call with other Democratic caucus members that was subsequently leaked. Brat beat his last Democratic challenger by 15-percentage points, and the district went for President Trump in 2016 by a margin of 6.5 points, though Democrat Hillary Clinton won the state overall. Former long-shot Trump challenger and one-time Republican congressman Joe Walsh announced on Twitter Tuesday he voted for a Democrat for the first time for president, casting his ballot for Joe Biden. [5] When she was 13, her family relocated to the Short Pump area in Henrico County in Virginia, outside Richmond. [30] Spanberger's remarks were disputed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who noted that Democrats kept the House, and progressive Representative Rashida Tlaib, who said the Democratic Party should "study the results" before dismissing progressives who represent their districts. Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger held onto her seat Tuesday evening, per the Associated Press, beating back a challenge by Yesli Vega, a Trump-endorsed county supervisor who made national headlines for her inaccurate comments on pregnancies resulting from rape. In 2014, the family moved back to Henrico County. The security clearance form listed another one of Spanbergers former jobs as a substitute English teacher at a Saudi Arabia embassy school. She won with 51% of the vote to Freitas's 49%. Chief Of Staff at Risk . In the past week, LegiStorm added: To see staff salaries for aides in the personal office of Rep. Abigail Spanberger, select a time period below. FREDERICKSBURG, VA - The campaign of Rep. Abigail Spanberger a former federal law enforcement officer and CIA case officer released its latest ad, "Shocked." Rep. Spanberger is also working to reduce premiums in the insurance marketplace and to lower out-of-pocket costs. Part of that unity is aimed at opposing what members call "an extreme Republican agenda." Brown said this is all part of the strategy to keep the impact of Democrats' votes in Washington top of mind for their constituents. WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after speaking one-on-one with White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain about the ongoing formula shortage in Virginia and across the country. Postal Inspection Service. "I spoke with White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain yesterday and today about the urgency of this shortage. [44][45], On January 31, 2023, Spanberger was among seven Democrats to vote for H.R.497:Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, a bill which would lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers. Republicans have been particularly adept this year at using those procedural motions to send a message and put moderate Democrats like his boss in a tight spot. [18] She won the November 6 general election by just over 6,600 votes. Abigail Spanberger has always served her country and community. Please subscribe to keep reading. Now, shes a third-term Democratic congresswoman from Virginia who was just named to one of two committees that oversees the work of America's spy agencies. During a recent debate, Brat repeatedly accused Spanberger of being a Nancy Pelosi-style Democrat and too liberal for the district.
