She began her career of public service as a federal law enforcement officer working narcotics and money laundering cases with the U.S. She's trustworthy, said Hurd, who left Congress after the 2020 election. Thank you for visiting my campaign website. Spanberger, a former CIA case officer who unseated former Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA) in 2018, has been in a heated battle to retain her swing seat, with nonpartisan handicapper Cook Political Report. [76], 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia District 7, 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia District 7, 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Virginia District 7, Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit, Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and Nonproliferation, Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy, and the Environment, 2019 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, photo op in front of St. John's Episcopal Church, Women in the United States House of Representatives, "Abigail Spanberger's passion for languages led her to the CIA", "Virginia Election Results: Seventh Congressional District", "Spanberger narrowly defeats GOP challenger in closely watched House race in Virginia", "Candidate Conversation - Abigail Spanberger (D)", "Saudi School Dominates TV Ads in Race for Suburban Richmond Congressional Seat", "This former CIA officer says she can beat Virginia Rep. Dave Brat", "Former CIA Officer Abigail Spanberger is on a mission for Virginia's 7th District", Who are they? Going to turn now to Representative Abigail Spanberger. She assumed office on January 3, 2019. . FREDERICKSBURG, VA - The campaign of Rep. Abigail Spanberger a former federal law enforcement officer and CIA case officer released its latest ad, "Shocked." The Republican political action committee, known as the Congressional Leadership Fund, ran ads claiming she worked at a school that produced some of the worlds most dangerous terrorists. The Virginia mother of three told Good Morning America during a sit-down interview in her kitchen this summer that she always had a desire to serve her country, an interest in government, and a love of languages. Whether they choose to go to college or not, Rep. Spanberger believes that all Virginia workers should have access to the education and training they need to achieve career success, earn a good living, and keep the Commonwealth the best state in the country for business. "This is news to me and I'm very disappointed," said Del. Vice-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and other members of the Problem Solvers Caucus hold a news conference to show support for their bipartisan infrastructure bill, which was written by both Democrat and Republican senators and representatives at the US Capitol in Washington, DC., on Friday, July 30 . Additionally, she is actively seeking innovative, bipartisan legislative solutions to help combat rising rates of maternal mortality in the United States, particularly within historically underserved and disadvantaged communities. She formerly produced the NPR Politics Podcast and got her start in radio at as an intern on NPR's Weekend All Things Considered and Tell Me More with Michel Martin. To ensure our communities stay protected, Rep. Spanberger is fighting to reaffirm the importance of our countrys relationships with its key allies, including member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). "The President's actions violate his oath of office, endanger our national security, and betray the public trust", she said. After eight years, Spanberger had several choices for her next posting, from Kenya to Costa Rica. Barbara Sprunt is a producer on NPR's Washington desk, where she reports and produces breaking news and feature political content. 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. [68], In a November 2021 interview with the New York Times, Spanberger criticized Biden after the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election, saying, "Nobody elected him to be F.D.R., they elected him to be normal and stop the chaos. Any plan released by this administration must make sure that formula is stocked on our shelves for all Virginia parents, crack down on price gouging, and increase imports of formula from abroad. Spanberger, Kelly Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Award Congressional Gold Medal to Americans Who Served & Fought Bravely in WWII Prior to Americas Entry. Abigail Spanberger Spanberger, a mother of three school-aged girls, has been juggling homeschooling, protecting her family from Covid-19, and protecting her district from the pandemic.. I know the lingo. Abigail Spanberger has served as the Democratic congresswoman for Virginia's 7th Congressional District since 2019. Rep. Spanberger believes that protecting womens access to reproductive healthcare is a social and economic necessity. 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. Currently serving Virginia District 7 Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger greets voters on Saturday, Nov. 5 in Woodbridge, VA. . Abigail Spanberger has always served her country and community. Rep. Spanberger supports a national response that invests in preventing overdoses, expanding access to treatment, and supporting individuals in recovery from addiction as they seek to reclaim their health and well-being. C-SPAN, an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels (C-SPAN, C-SPAN2 and C-SPAN3), one radio station and a group of. Rep. Spanberger supports giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices, so that more senior citizens in the Commonwealth do not have to choose between putting food on the table or affording their life-saving medications. The "Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act" Would Allow Flavored and Unflavored Whole Milk in Participating Schools WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger helped reintroduce a bipartisan bill to allow unflavored and flavored whole milk to be offered in Virginia's school cafeterias. Even so, Jones father went on to serve in the Marines during the Vietnam War. "[31][32], After the 2020 United States redistricting cycle, Spanberger's district was radically redrawn, and no longer included her home in Henrico County. They wrote that if the allegations were true, they amounted to "a flagrant disregard for the law" and "a threat to all we have sworn to protect. Spanberger, a former CIA agent, distanced herself from the defund movement during her 2020 campaign. And we're making that connection to your precious tax dollars, hard at work making a difference in your life. Postal Inspection Service, has represented Virginia's 7th District since she flipped the GOP-held seat in 2018 as part of a Democratic wave that retook . "Overall I am not a supporter of the Green New Deal", she said. Spanberger ( Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the U.S. House to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District. Democrat Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) announced she will run for reelection in Virginia's new seventh congressional district which she currently represents after the redistricting maps were unanimously approved, putting her current residence outside the new lines. She applied for a job with the CIA and had a confidential offer by 2002. In 2014, Abigail left government service to begin a career in the private sector and bring her family back home to Virginia. As an example, she points to visits in her district from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg showing new bridges under construction and White House infrastructure coordinator Mitch Landrieu highlighting a new interstate interchange. This button displays the currently selected search type. At the top in all caps are the words "President Joe Biden.". [57], In February 2023, during the Russo-Ukrainian War, Spanberger signed a letter advocating for President Biden to give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. I was able to get involved in those races and watch really great people step forward and stand up for what they believe in and want to be a part of the political process, Spanberger said. [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. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), Mike Waltz (R-FL-06), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05) today introduced bipartisan legislation to increase transparency in the federal student loan process and to give borrowers additional tools to understand and decrease [], At Least 519 Protesters Have Been Killed by the Regime & More Than 19,000 Iranians Have Been Arrested Since the Death of Mahsa Amini In September 2022 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger joined a bipartisan, bicameral effort urging the Biden Administration to impose stricter sanctions against members of the Iranian Parliament or [], The U.S. House Committee on Financial Services Voted Unanimously to Pass the Congresswomans China Financial Threat Mitigation Act WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. House Financial Services Committee voted unanimously 40 to 0 to advance U.S. Representative Abigail Spanbergers bipartisan bill that would build up Americas response to emerging financial threats from the Chinese []. Jayapal told reporters that while "nobody is surprised that Biden was not my choice in the first election for the primary," the CPC and the administration have formed an "incredibly strong partnership.". Rep. Spanberger knows that the United States today faces many foreign threats from its adversaries, and she believes that a strong diplomatic presence is a core component of our national security and must not be lessened or ignored. Now, she's a third-term Virginia congresswoman who was just named to one of two committees that oversees the work of U.S.. "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. Yes, she said, she had disguises and a cover story. Spanberger's chief of staff says House is like a startup Roscoe Jones Jr. relishes chamber's "fast pace" after move from the Senate Roscoe Jones Jr. compares his move from Senate aide to House. Abigail Spanberger spent almost a decade as a CIA operations officer. The reality is other countries perceive that and they perceive that in a way that can't be good, she said. A few years later, during the 2016 presidential election, she started to discuss with her friends the possibility of running for office. "No, no. [50] In November 2020, she described reducing the cost of prescription drugs as "the top priority of families in [her] district". She said she does not support "sanctuary cities" but also called the term "a campaign slogan a lot of people get caught up in." After earning her MBA, Rep. Spanberger began her public service . [5] When she was 13, her family relocated to the Short Pump area in Henrico County in Virginia, outside Richmond. Abigail Spanberger spent almost a decade as a CIA operations officer. Staff Sergeant Gonell, Aquilino (@SergeantAqGo) October 31, 2022 . Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. As for his leap from the well-oiled machinery of the Senate to the front lines of the House, he has no regrets. In the weeks since she was named to the intelligence committee, Spanberger says she's already recognizing some of the names and programs in the classified materials she's receiving. Those did not trickle down to employees.. Abigail grew up in Henrico County. You can't be. Abigail Spanberger is running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. It still does.. [Podcast: These Democratic women dont want to be show ponies]. The relationship between Congress and the U.S. intelligence community can be uneasy an. Spanberger grew up in the district in west of Richmond, Virginia, where she now lives again with her family and is running for office. Two Eau Claire natives, sisters Abigail and Rachel Rindo, have been working in the video game industry for a combined 17 years and now work for some of the biggest names in the business. 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. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Look, I love the Senate. She has voiced her support for stronger border security measures but opposes Trump's proposed wall. Their hope: flip the handful of seats needed to regain control of the chamber next year. 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. Abigail Spanberger spoke with voters at a campaign event in June in Midlothian, . Abigail Anne Spanberger[1] (ne Davis, August 7, 1979) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Virginia's 7th congressional district since 2019. By Lindsey McPherson. Biographical Data, Abigail Spanberger. She is a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., and a Pennsylvania native. [25] She was also boosted by Joe Biden narrowly carrying the district;[26] Biden is the first Democrat to win what is now the 7th since 1948. She supports universal coverage through the adoption of a public option and, in Congress, she advocates for solutions that achieve real progress, respond to the unique challenges of Virginias rural communities, support the Commonwealths expansion of Medicaid coverage, and preserve funding for critical programs like the Childrens Health Insurance Plan. ", Before President George W. Bush was mangling the English language, it was his father, President George H.W. Congresswoman, 2019 - Present. "At a minimum, your agency ought to provide parents with a clear timeline of when they can expect . Why Republicans and Democrats will be watching this race on election night. Following her love of country, public service, and languages, Abigail joined the CIA as a case 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. She attended J.R. Tucker High Schools Spanish immersion program and is a proud graduate of the University of Virginia. Abigail Spanberger ( Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Virginia's 7th Congressional District. [33][34] In the general election, Spanberger defeated Vega with 52.3% of the vote. [12][13][14] She made the final decision to run after the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Spanberger, who spent years in law enforcement herself, offered a model on how to do that in a recent half-day tour that demonstrated her support for the Culpeper Police Department speaking to. That's especially true now as lawmakers demand answers about classified documents found in the private possession of two presidents and the Biden administration's response to a suspected Chinese spy balloon. Last updated on Jan 30, 2021. Allies In the longer term, I am pursuing legislation to ensure we dont face this challenge again., Congresswoman: They Ran to the Sound of the Guns WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Pressed on details, she gives few. 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. "As we start to see more shovels in the ground, as we start to see more cranes in the air, we can start to point to that and say, 'Hey, that's what Democrats did for you,' " she said. 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). [21], A number of sources claimed Spanberger was the first Democrat to win this seat since 1970, when four-term Democrat John Marsh retired and was succeeded by Republican J. Kenneth Robinson. [19] While Brat won eight of the district's ten counties, Spanberger dominated the two largest counties, Henrico and Chesterfield, by a combined margin of over 30,000 votes. He told voters in 1992: ''You cannot be president of the United States if you don't have faith. She represents a central Virginia seat that went for President Donald Trump by 6 points in 2016 - and where she appears to have barely eked out a victory by. Rep. Spanberger is actively focused on advancing legislation that grows the Seventh Districts small businesses, reduces unnecessary regulatory burdens, cuts red tape, and invests in critical physical infrastructure improvements that support growth like expanded broadband internet access. Jones doesnt take them lightly. [29] The Washington Post digital editor James Downie criticized Spanberger's view, remarking that if a losing officeholder "couldn't manage to tie his or her Republican opponent to almost a quarter of a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States, a tanked economy or a dozen other policy fiascos, that's the candidate's fault. But Im sure there will be points of frustration probably for me and for them, frankly speaking.. [7], In 2006, Spanberger joined the Central Intelligence Agency as an operations officer. Abigail Spanberger, a congressional candidate, had a 12-year career with the CIA. That came after a job in the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division and a stint as a federal prosecutor. [51] In November 2020, Spanberger led a bipartisan effort to secure the 340B Drug Pricing Program against changes that would lead to significant increases in prescription medication costs. Fool me you can't get fooled again.. His team wrestles with every vote, even when time is tight and the night has been long. It's like it was like Special Olympics, or something." Postal Inspection Service. But I have never had this much fun on the Hill as Im having now., The Source for news on Capitol Hill since 1955. Spanbergers blue and white yard signs have a single, small star a subtle reference to her work in the agency but apart from that she actually does not reference her work much when campaigning, though she does emphasis service, honor, and American values in her speeches. The security clearance form listed another one of Spanbergers former jobs as a substitute English teacher at a Saudi Arabia embassy school. She's since won two more close races and been raised as a possible candidate for Virginia governor. Those votes can be tricky because we dont have very much time.. So don't feel sorry for don't cry for me, Argentina. [17], In August, the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC closely aligned with Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, conducted a smear campaign against Spanberger. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) on Friday called for new House leadership because of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's handling of legislation that would ban members of Congress from trading stock,. Not a lot of people would do that, Jones said. To see staff salaries for aides in the personal office of Rep. Abigail Spanberger, select a time period below. ABIGAIL SPANBERGER IS ONE OF A GROWING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO SAY " ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. If your intention was to visit my official House of Representatives website, please, Checks payable to "Spanberger for Congress". Biden ticked through a list of legislative accomplishments, including the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, the first major gun safety legislation passed by Congress in nearly 30 years, legislation to boost the domestic manufacturing of semiconductor chips and a sweeping climate, health care and tax bill. Addressing the Opioid Abuse & Addiction Epidemic [15][16] Her campaign outraised Brat's. President Jimmy Carter made a nation cringe when he told Playboy magazine: "I've looked on a lot of women with lust. Theyre grossly overqualified, he boasted of the full-time staff of 17. [63], On June 1, 2020, Spanberger tweeted criticism of Trump's reaction to the George Floyd protests, a series of protests against police brutality that began in Minneapolis on May 26. "Folks, you all know how much we've gotten done, but a lot of the country still doesn't know it," Biden said. Abigail Rindo is the narrative design director at King, the company behind popular mobile game franchises such as Candy Crush, Farm . The two also sparred over issues like the recent Republican tax reform law. Corporations got permanent tax cuts, permanent tax cuts, Spanberger responded. CIA Democrat Abigail Spanberger [Source: yahoo.com] Did they have outside help? [29], CNN political editor Chris Cillizza described Spanberger's remarks as "some hard truth" for the Democratic Party, adding that in order to succeed in the 2022 and 2024 elections, the party should "listen to the likes of Spanberger" instead of pushing for "the boldest possible progressive legislation". I know the . I will always love the Senate, Jones said. ", She underscored: "One thing that's been really nice this session is there's just tremendous unity.". Here's what to watch, Monroe County names new chief diversity officer, Consumer advocates and environmentalists try to block RG&E, NYSEG rate increases, City to spend COVID relief dollars to replace ozone-depleting ice machinery at BlueCross Arena, Muler parties like it's 2003 on melodic, moody new album 'Get Well', CHOW HOUND: What's happening in Rochester's dining scene.