Abigail Spanberger | ALXnow

Big Bucks, big stakes: Virginia candidates raise over $20 Million as 2025 election season heats up

Published April 16, 2025 at 2:30PM | Updated April 16, 2025 at 3:06PM

Virginia governor candidates Abigail Spanberger (left) and Winsome Earle-Sears. (Spanberger photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury, Earle-Sears photo by Parker Michels-Boyce for the Virginia Mercury)

With three statewide offices and all 100 House of Delegates seats up for grabs, Virginia Department of Elections campaign finance reports show candidates across the commonwealth pulled in a staggering $20.4 million between Jan. 1 and March 31, underscoring the intensity and razor-sharp competition ahead.

In the marquee governor’s race, Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger has soared to an early financial lead, raising $6.7 million to Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears’ $3.1 million. Spanberger enters the heart of campaign season with $11 million cash on hand — nearly three times more than her GOP opponent.

Local student activist kicks off Spanberger rally, urges action on gun safety

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 10, 2025 at 3:15PM | Updated April 10, 2025 at 3:56PM

Student Grace Vareghuse speaks at the Moms Demand Action endorsement of Abigail Spanberger for governor, at the Oswald Durant Center in Alexandria, April 10, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Grace Vareghuse, who co-leads her school’s Students Demand Action chapter at Hayfield Secondary School (7630 Telegraph Road), kicked off a campaign rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger today (April 10) at the Oswald Durant Center.

“Students like me shouldn’t have to worry about gun violence when we’re trying to get an education,” Vareghuse, a self-described resident of Alexandria, told the audience of a couple hundred supporters on hand at the Oswald Durant Center for a rally jointly held by Moms Demand Action and the Abigail Spanberger Campaign. “We need leaders who will take action to keep us safe.”

Abigail Spanberger rallies in Alexandria, picks up endorsements from Moms Demand Action and Sheriff Casey

By Ryan Belmore

Published April 10, 2025 at 2:50PM | Updated April 10, 2025 at 4:06PM

Abigail Spanberger with Moms Demand Action Executive Director Angela Ferrell-Zabala in Alexandria on April 10, 2025, after the candidate formally received the organization's endorsement (staff photo by James Cullum)

Moms Demand Action officially endorsed Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger for Virginia Governor at a rally in Alexandria today (April 10). The event at the Oswald Durant Center drew a couple hundred attendees showing support for the congressional representative’s gubernatorial campaign.

The endorsement comes as Spanberger continues to build momentum in her bid to become Virginia’s next governor. Gun safety advocacy is emerging as a central theme of her campaign.