Author | Lightnews

Spanberger Stan

@spanbergerstan.bsky.social

93 followers 40 following 260 posts

Lifelong Virginian. Fan of public service. Obsessed with our future governor, Abigail Spanberger. Not affiliated with any campaign.

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · Dec 19

Why am I such a fan of Abigail Spanberger? Because she embodies everything I love and respect in politicians.

A thread:

The best politicians are public servants. Spanberger did two hard and risky jobs for the Republic. She was federal law enforcement with USPIS, and she was a CIA officer overseas.

1 8

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 1d

I had a 6 page thread prepared for this but, it's complicated and past my knowledge.

"Mills Godwin means that Byrders just switched from Dems to the GOP" is an overstatement IMO. Both parties carried the legacy of Byrd guys and anti-Byrd guys, although maybe not to the same degrees.

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 1d

The Byrd machine barred blacks and most poor whites from voting for 60-70 years. Urban and Appalachian whites could vote but were kept out of statewide power. Virginia had a smaller electorate (relative to population) than any other state.

It ended but the guys from that system carried on.

1 2

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 1d

1961 was the last Virginia gubernatorial election under the Byrd Machine, before the 24th amendment ended poll taxes.

In other words, Abigail has the biggest win for any Democrat running for governor, since black people could vote again.

Arguably the biggest win for any Dem in a free election.

Sam Shirazi @samshirazi.bsky.social · 2d

Fun facts

Abigail Spanberger got biggest win for a Dem in Virginia Governor election since 1961

Ghazala Hashmi got biggest win for Dem in Virginia Lt. Governor election since 1965

Virginia Dems won most seats in Virginia House of Delegates since 1987

1 11 24

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 2d

Sic Semper Tyrannis is the original No Kings.

Abigail Spanberger at her 2025 victory rally, in front of the Virginia flag.

8 21

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 2d

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp_i...

Stream finally started guys! They're straightening the "Governor elect" sign on the podium.

Election Night Watch Party with Abigail Spanberger in Richmond

YouTube video by Abigail Spanberger for Governor

www.youtube.com

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 2d

And now it's official, official. AP is slower on the draw than DDHQ, but they're news organization of record on this.

Virginia Mercury @virginiamercury.com · 2d

BREAKING: The Associated Press has called the Virginia governor’s race in Democrat Abigail Spanberger’s favor, as of 8:00 p.m.

More updates from Spanberger’s victory party coming soon. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/e...

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 2d

Twenty minutes after the polls closed. Amazing. History made.

Scott Dworkin @dworkin.bsky.social · 2d

They called it! Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia gubernatorial race!

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 2d

Just saw this actually. Both of the campus precincts are going to exceed 2024 numbers. Falls Church City is at like, 85% of 2024 numbers. Alexandria City is up there.

It's going to be a great night for Abigail and the Commonwealth.

MLC @chicyph80.bsky.social · 2d

🚨🚨

Chaz just now on his live YouTube. One of the voting sites in Blacksburg, VA (home of Virginia Tech) officially has more votes than 2024 Presidential.

I cannot stress how insane that is.

@samshirazi.bsky.social @andrewp97.bsky.social @ratelimitexceeder.bsky.social

2 3

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 2d

Spanberger talks about her single-minded focus. Like, running for almost 2 years, and just hammering the affordability issue at the exclusion of everything else.

Also she represented 2 different parts of the state because of redistricting, giving her play in 2 media markets for years.

Aubrey Gilleran @aubreygilleran.bsky.social · 2d

I do think *what* makes Spanberger a better candidate is a good question, since on paper, she and Sherrill share similar profiles and voting records.

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 2d

I mean yeah she's been doing that since her first campaign, when she said she wouldn't vote for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker.

Nancy was fine with it.

1 1

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 4d

It's simply not effective, not in this time and place. Abigail dwarfed these Republican crowds over the weekend. Her approach is working, and the GOP appears overly sensitive and hysterical. It's an inverse of McDonnell 2009.

Maybe that harder edge is working in New Jersey though.

Reposted by Spanberger Stan

Abigail Spanberger @abigailspanberger.com · 5d

Virginia, are you ready to win?

6 70 260

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 5d

Contrast this crowd, with Marco Rubio bursting the rafters in 2016. Same room.

Half these people are probably Dems now. The type of people and areas that were stoked to support Rubio then, either because they liked who he was or because he was a Trump obstacle, were big realigners in 17/18.

Shortly before Super Tuesday in 2016, then Senator Marco Rubio had a rally in Patrick Henry College in Virginia. The picture shows a packed auditorium.

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 5d

If anyone wants to watch the Obama/Spanberger rally in Norfolk, it should be starting any second.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnGC...

Virginia Votes Rally in Norfolk with Abigail Spanberger and President Barack Obama

YouTube video by Abigail Spanberger for Governor

www.youtube.com

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 5d

Straight into my veins.

Sam Shirazi @samshirazi.bsky.social · 6d

New Virginia poll from State Navigate

Spanberger with big lead

Notably relatively less ticket splitting for LG and AG than most polls

Jones is up in AG race

Plausible he wins if Spanberger wins by 13%but big if

There will be Federal Fallout pod out soon

statenavigate.org/virginia-pol...

1 2

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 7d

Great to see her using these skills.

This was in the Arlandia neighborhood, right on the border of Arlington County. The Salvadoran community there deserves more attention from NoVA politicos.

Blue Virginia @bluevirginia.bsky.social · 7d

"Abigail Spanberger speaking at length in fluent Spanish at a Latinos campaign event in Alexandria, VA" - @isaacdovere.bsky.social bluevirginia.us/2025/10/phot...

1 1

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 7d

First we elect this ticket, then we purge all the fascists, then we give statehood to DC, Puerto Rico, Greenland, and Free Cuba.

Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 8d

I will add that the Spanberger-Sherrill or Sherrill-Spanberger ticket in 2028 will be lit. (Once you both win next week, do let me know how you're working out the order.)

1 2

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 8d

This is so good. All all the campaign stop videos I've seen this year, I think this is the best.

Abigail Spanberger @abigailspanberger.com · 8d

Virginia, this election is about her future — and the future of our Commonwealth.

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 8d

Spanberger and the electorate know that he cannot be arrested or prosecuted for those crimes by any state government.

That's why no candidate for governor or mayor, anywhere, is making "arrest Trump" a campaign focus.

Ping me if you see that happen in '26, because I'd be surprised.

1 1

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 8d

Sometimes you can gin up a "controversy" out of nothing, but oftentimes it doesn't work. Winsome's effort to make swing voters care about trans issues is a big fat failure.

Will swing voters care about Jones? I think not.

Will GOP voters care enough to make it closer than it "should" be? Maybe.

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 8d

Picture 3 pots of voters:

Dem voters: probably at historically high turnout levels, but still want max GOTV.

GOP voters: were complacent after '24, dispirited by Winsome's bad campaign, now likely more motivated.

Swing voters: generally care most about cost of living, turned off by extremism.

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 8d

That's a dumb idea that would not poll well. "Hey did you know Trump is a criminal" is extremely played out and would turn off swing voters. And arrested by who? The feds? The State Police or Militia if he crosses the Potomac?

Voters care about economics and that message will be vindicated.

3 1

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 8d

Levar Stoney was running, and then there was the rumored Bobby Scott effort. Scott's candidacy was obviously not gonna happen, but Stoney had a real campaign, real endorsements, all that before her dropped down to the LG race.

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 8d

Even if she was the nominee for 2 years (she wasn't), how was she supposed to do anything about the Jay Jones scandal before it dropped?

1 1

Spanberger Stan @spanbergerstan.bsky.social · 8d

But to get at what you meant, there are circumstances out of her control that have greatly affected the race. If the Jay Jones story or the redistricting session gets Republicans fired up, that's not something she can control.