Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is facing off against former Democrat Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger in Virginia’s closely watched 2025 gubernatorial race. While Spanberger appears to have the edge in the race so far, recent shocking revelations about the origins of the Trump-Russia collusion narrative – “Russiagate” – could create some uncomfortable questions for Spanberger and perhaps give Sears an opportunity to portray her opponent as a dishonest, untrustworthy career bureaucrat.
Before she was elected to Congress in 2018, Spanberger was a CIA operative. She has leaned heavily on that experience in her campaign, repeatedly describing herself as a “federal law enforcement officer” who “worked undercover.”
While Spanberger has tirelessly repeated platitudes about “protecting America” and “preventing terrorist attacks,” she has offered precious few details on what exactly she was doing at America’s spy agency – perhaps unsurprising given the intense secrecy with which the CIA operates. But newly declassified documents released by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard this week should place added scrutiny on Spanberger’s CIA tenure – particularly given her obvious liberal bias.
Documents released by Gabbard specifically allege that senior Obama-era intelligence officials “manufactured and politicized” intelligence to falsely suggest ties between then-candidate Donald Trump and Moscow in 2016. Former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey are now under criminal investigation for lying to Congress and using the discredited Steele Dossier to justify surveillance against Trump campaign officials.
Spanberger, who co-authored a 2019 Washington Post op-ed calling for Trump’s impeachment over nonexistent ties to Russia and served in the same intelligence community that manufactured the Russia collusion narrative, has remained conspicuously silent on this recent bombshell story. Why is she suddenly so hesitant to weigh in on the matter? What, exactly, did she know about the Trump-Russia collusion probe during her time at the CIA?
In Congress, Spanberger was also one of the chief purveyors of the Russia collusion hoax during Trump’s first term, repeatedly waving around her CIA credentials to lend credibility to the now-discredited narrative. But now she is suddenly unwilling to defend what she once championed as unquestioned fact. Why?
After leaving Congress, Spanberger became suspiciously shifty when Trump nominated Gabbard to become DNI. When Gabbard promised to reveal more about the origins of the Russiagate hoax, Spanberger became apoplectic, absurdly accusing Gabbard – a former Democrat colleague of Spanberger’s in the House – of being “cozy” with Vladimir Putin. Why did Spanberger feel the need to lob this ridiculous smear at Gabbard? What was she afraid of Gabbard uncovering?
Most importantly, Sears and Republican leaders in Virginia should ask why Spanberger has failed to come clean with voters about her Russiagate dishonesty. As late as 2019, Spanberger was posting about the now completely debunked narrative of “Russian meddling in the 2016 election.” Can she offer any explanation for why she so vigorously pushed that blatant falsehood?
For Republicans, this could be the opening they need to knock Spanberger back on her heels and expose her dishonesty and shiftiness on a range of critical issues. Spanberger has, for instance, refused to take a firm stance on protecting Right-to-Work in Virginia. She has also built her political identity around supposedly being a “moderate,” but racked up an astonishingly liberal voting record in Congress.
Spanberger notably voted with President Biden nearly 100 percent of the time, including on the Inflation Reduction Act – a vote that directly cuts against her promise to bring down the cost of living. She has a five percent lifetime score from Heritage Action for America, half the average for House Democrats. She opposed school choice, voted to count illegal immigrants in the census, and rejected Trump-era efforts to downsize the federal bureaucracy.
She also opposed the Laken Riley Act, which would have enabled deportation of criminal illegal aliens, including an MS-13 leader operating in Virginia.
Spanberger co-sponsored the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would override nearly all state-level abortion restrictions, and voted against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Pro-life groups such as the Susan B. Anthony List and Family Research Council have pointed to her record as evidence of an extreme liberal stance on abortion that places her at odds with a majority of Virginia voters who want some restrictions on the procedure later in pregnancy.
Spanberger also opposed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, celebrated “Trans Visibility Day” during Women’s History Month, and earned a failing grade on Riley Gaines’ “Stand With Women Scorecard.”
Pressing Spanberger on Russiagate could place added scrutiny on all of these other extreme positions as well. Once voters see that a politician is dishonest on one topic, it can open the floodgates to expose them as untrustworthy on a range of issues.
Such an opportunity couldn’t come at a more critical time for Sears. According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Spanberger leads Sears 46 percent to 38.5 percent in the race – hardly an insurmountable lead, but enough of a gap to create some real urgency for Republicans with less than four months to go.
Spanberger also enjoys a fundraising advantage, reporting $6.5 million raised in the first half of the year and over $14 million cash on hand. Sears, by contrast, reported $3.5 million raised and less than $3 million in the bank.
All campaigns and races have turning points. This could prove to be a critical one in determining which woman will become the next Governor of Virginia. Along will exposing Abigail Spanberger as a liar, Republicans might just reveal that Spanberger’s moderate image is every bit as fake as the Steele Dossier.
Sarah Katherine Sisk is a proud Hillsdale College alumna and a master’s student in economics at George Mason University. You can follow her on X @SKSisk76.
I was not aware that the CIA was considered Law Enforcement. I was always under the impression that they were an Intelligence Agency and were only allowed to operate outside of the United States. In any case I wouldn’t trust Spanberger any farther than I could throw her. This scandal goes to show that the Democrat Party has lost its ethics, its morality and its patriotism and can now likened to the Communist Party by the tactics they have undertaken to unseat a duly elected President.
Just sounds that Spanberger comes from the same mold as MN Gov. Walz – here is what I did for the government so you can “trust me always”. When the TRUTH comes out, LOOK OUT!
Winsome would be an amazing governor – just hope the good people in Virginia appreciate what she would bring to the table.
Winsome for VA Governor!!
I don’t think Virginia needs a governor raised in Brennan’s mushroom farm, and who is, and was up to her neck covered in Brennan’s Russia gate fertilizer and to this day emits the stench of this odious TDS smear affair.
Let’s get this article to the Sears campaign in Virginia. Go MAGA!!
Disgusted at clips of CNN cutting away after Tulsi Gabbard’s first sentence, so as not to show the actual truth of whoever still watches them. Not gonna hold my breath that ANY of the MSM outlets actually admit that they were WRONG!!! Wonder if Lesley Stahl will admit that Trump was right about them spying on his campaign…yeah, right. The democrats will do absolutely ANYTHING for power and lie about anything. I’m truly disgusted with all of them. Good thing Biden didn’t pardon any of the intelligence folks that are right now fighting over who gets the best defense attorney!
Supposedly, the CIA cannot operate within the US…so where was she doing all this “federal law enforcement?”
Fellow Conservatives: Why is it you the AMERICAN TAXPAYER NEVER HEARS ABOUT HOW YOUR TAXES ARE BEING RAISED TO SUPPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HEALTHCARE NEEDS? I currently reside in a Southern California Skilled Nursing facility and I’m the problem when I complain about the illegal immigrant speaking ONLY SPANISH in the bed next to me!!! Imagine hearing SPANISH ALL DAY LONG!!! And when I complain about it, I’M THE PROBLEM!!! I’m now believing that I’m living in a foreign country and NOT AMERICA!!!
If the voters in Virginia wants a liar for their Governor, then they are voting for their own State demise. Once a liar always a liar because they have no conscience. Lying defines a person’s true character and is the bases of all corruptions that person will do.
All of the Democrats are involved in this treason will skate. Are judicial system is so corrupt they will not get prosecuted. It’s okay to commit treason if it’s helping take down Donald Trump and destroying this country. If they Republican or a conservative had done anything at this level they would be in prison for the rest of their lives. You watch
VIRGINANIANS, VOTE Winsome Earle-Sears a your NEXT GOVERNOR!!!
I hope the Lt. Gov wins. I like that lady, smart, sharp, . . .
Before I retired in 2014, I worked with the FBI, NSA, NCIS, OSI, CID and CIA. The FBI and CIA had some of the most corrupt agents I had to deal with in Foreign Intelligence. They’re taught to Lie and Cheat to get what they want. I’m letting you know that you can’t believe a work that comes out of their mouth.
She is worried about the safety of America and terrorist attacks, perhaps she should answer where she stands on deportation of all illegals, gang members, criminals who get the slap on the hand and the peddlers in flesh, that would be the start. If she stays cool, she should receive Hilary award.
This Spanberger is so typical of our current democrat party. Yes she has the money, so did Kamala, but the voters in Virgina surly are smarter. Boasting her qualifications, she just told us what she really stands for, Oh yes, the Russia Hoax, how timely for this election
I sincerely hope Winsome Sears wins in VA. Spannberger reminds me of the CEO of a company that I used to work for: She came to my company from a CIA job and was hailed as someone with all the talent and knowledge from her CIA career to make our company successful in multiple aspects, but all she ever did to grow the company was stock buy-backs. All the while, she was a Woke bureaucrat with no idea about business and zero leadership skills, which cost us dearly in market share.
I hope VA gives Sears a chance but too many Gubment Workers, SEIU Nazis and Communist scum in NOVA, Richmond and Tidewater will probably give it to Spannberger.
Vote WINSOME, not a deep state Democrat Operative
Good I hope Spanberger loses to Earle-Sears. Lt. Gov Sears will be better for the American taxpayer and the country and education and safety, etc. etc.
Maybe…just maybe, there’s a tectonic shift occurring and the likes of this countryclub- marxist, America- hating Spanberger klown are headed for the ‘shirt’pile of history. We can only hope and pray…
It will be a deciding factor, if the idiots who would vote for a Democrat listen to sources other than CNN, MSNBC, and the like. Do you actually think they would bring this up? They won’t. They will paint her as a champion for the people for sure. Hopefully, they can get ads out there saying that she was in on the Russia-gate lies. But don’t hold your breath!!!
The federal agencies need thorough purging. I suspect theyre still stuffed full of commies like spanberger. Perhaps we can learn something from uncle joe in the thirties.
Hopefully VA voters will do their homework and see all the lies, corruption and cover-ups the left-wing progressive Spanberger is, and how deeply involved she in one of the biggest lying scandas in history, because the Lame stream Fake News medias has been , and will continue to coverup all of Spanberger’s involvement, corruption, and lies.
Why anyone would vote for a democrat who have lied and lied to the American voter over and over again is an enigma to me. The brainwashing and manipulation under Obama and continued under Biden and is being exposed every day the past 6 months and under Trump 45. The billionaires like Soros Gates Pritzker et al are controlling the party and thereby the country. A Revolution is about to start because everything the progressive communist party (DNC) does is creating a constitutional crisis. Obama Gate shows that. This will break the country in two, if not destroy it.
She has always done exactly what her handlers told her to do. She has no more interest in or concern for Va. than a pinecone does. So long as she makes her masters happy, she’s happy. Northern and Southeastern Va often carry the day for liberals. If only more conservative voters would get out and vote, then we should be able to prevent her from turning the Commonwealth into East California.
Searles is the better candidate.
If you are a Democrat, you are part of the problem.
The northern Virginia population will vote for a democrat (does not matter as to the person or competence) Protection for the job.
Thank you for posting this article. I live in Virginia and a supporter of Winsome Sears I also posted this article on FB.
Sounds like VA is in the same situation as MI was in Nov. 2024. The Democrat candidate for Senate, a former House member, and former CIA analyst. Promoting herself as a “moderate” yet voted almost 100% with the far-left on both social & economic issues, then and now as Senator. Don’t make the same mistake we did.
Another ex-CIA person who deserves nothing! She has been on the wrong side of everything good. Give her the door with a large boot send-off for not telling the truth.
Methinks Spanberger is a “Nothing Burger” to quote her fellow Marxist Comrade Hit-liar-Clinton!
In Virginia majority of voters hate Republicans and the constitution. They only support the law when it benefits them and their cause. She will not have a problem getting elected.
As a former Democrat, now Independent, I have no problem telling you that anyone who votes for a “democrat” is out of their freaking mind, or just stupid as a bird turd. The Democratic Party is dead. They have been taken over by communists, socialists, marxists, maoists and other American-hating demoncrap cretins. For more than 30 years, they’ve lied and robbed the American Citizens blind. Their 45 Goals for turning the USA into a communist state were entered into the Congressional Record on January 10, 1963. It’s a shame the concern didn’t spread. Had people been more concerned, the demoncraps wouldn’t have been able to go through this list and implement their vile agenda. You can go down the list and check them off for yourself. People should read this list and share it with everyone. They are very close to getting what they want, and if we don’t stop them now, they’re going to push us into the abyss. Once this happens, we will never get our Country back.
Congressional Record–Appendix, pp. A34-A35
January 10, 1963
Current Communist Goals
EXTENSION OF REMARKS OF HON. A. S. HERLONG, JR. OF FLORIDA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, January 10, 1963
Mr. HERLONG. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Patricia Nordman of De Land, Fla., is an ardent and articulate opponent of communism, and until recently published the De Land Courier, which she dedicated to the purpose of alerting the public to the dangers of communism in America.
At Mrs. Nordman’s request, I include in the RECORD, under unanimous consent, the following “Current Communist Goals,” which she identifies as an excerpt from “The Naked Communist,” by Cleon Skousen:
CURRENT COMMUNIST GOALS
1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.
2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.
3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament [by] the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.
4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.
5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.
6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.
7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.
8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev’s promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.
9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.
10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.
11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)
12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.
13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.
14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.
15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.
16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.
17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers’ associations. Put the party line in textbooks.
18. Gain control of all student newspapers.
19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.
20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.
21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.
22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to “eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms.”
23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. “Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art.”
24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them “censorship” and a violation of free speech and free press.
25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.
26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as “normal, natural, healthy.”
27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with “social” religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a “religious crutch.”
28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of “separation of church and state.”
29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.
30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the “common man.”
31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the “big picture.” Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.
32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture–education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.
33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.
34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.
36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.
37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.
38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand [or treat].
39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.
40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.
41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.
42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use “united force” to solve economic, political or social problems.
43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.
44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.
45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from having jurisdiction in cases involving US interests
But then again we keep getting these troublesome thoughts that maybe, just maybe our President was once involved with a group of child sex traffickers with that fellah named Epstein at its head. But then just for mentioning that, according to the Orange kiddie diddler, I am being “weak and stupid”.
But hey, Trumpie, you did promise to release, making fully public ALL the Epstein files. Got ya on tape promising that my good employee.
Russiagate? Somebody needs to tell the Republican-led (Marco Rubio) Senate Intelligence Committee about that. Rubio’s report confirmed Russia’s actions were aimed at influencing the 2016 election to benefit Trump. Documented fact.