New delegates to the Virginia Assembly, like Danica Roem, the first openly transgender legislator in the country, made national headlines. Rep. Spanberger is also working to reduce premiums in the insurance marketplace and to lower out-of-pocket costs. [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. [43], Spanberger supports the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). Occupation. Abigail and her husband Adam are parents to three daughters. 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. Abigail Spanberger, a congressional candidate, had a 12-year career with the CIA. [42], On February 1, 2023, Spanberger was among twelve Democrats to vote for a resolution to end COVID-19 national emergency. And now we're having wonderful conversations about how to help the American people in their day-to-day lives. Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger narrowly held onto her seat in Virginia on Tuesday, defeating Republican Yesli Vega in a contest both parties saw as an early bellwether in the battle for the. 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. Retrieved March 18, 2020. Although most of the conference was marked by strong support of the president, there was a brief interruption on Thursday, when news of Biden's decision not to use his veto power to block a GOP-effort to repeal D.C.'s new crime law broke during a press conference with the Congressional Black Caucus. The two also sparred over issues like the recent Republican tax reform law. She is an alumnus of the Paul Miller Reporting Fellowship at the National Press Foundation. March 3, 2023. As an operations officer, Spanberger worked on cases ranging from counterterrorism to nuclear proliferation. She had briefly worked for the USPS on an inspection team, investigating narcotics and money laundering cases. I will always love the Senate, Jones said. Postal Inspection Service. 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. [74][75] She is a Protestant. [59], Spanberger objected to Trump's travel bans from certain predominantly Muslim countries and argued that they would aid jihadist propaganda by allowing a portrayal of the United States as an anti-Muslim country. The smear campaign, which attempted to tie her to terrorism, was based on an SF-86 application she completed to obtain security clearance, which was inappropriately released in breach of privacy rules. In some ways, Abigail Spanbergers story parallels dozens of other first-time female candidates across the country this year: a successful, smart woman driven to get involved in politics for the first time after President Trump was elected and eventually inspired to take on her Republican congressman. Obama told this unfortunate joke about his bowling skills during an appearance on The Tonight Show in 2009. 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. Look, I love the Senate. "Abigail Spanberger is . Part of that unity is aimed at opposing what members call "an extreme Republican agenda." [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. Abigail Spanberger has served as the Democratic congresswoman for Virginia's 7th Congressional District since 2019. The security clearance form listed another one of Spanbergers former jobs as a substitute English teacher at a Saudi Arabia embassy school. She had to work with the CIA to get her service record declassified to run for Congress and now on the trail sticks to carefully scripted lines, approved by the agency, when talking about her work. "[31] Downie quoted progressive Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who had noted that no swing-district House Democrat who co-sponsored Medicare for All lost their seat, and had remarked in response to Spanberger's comments that "not a single member of Congress that I'm aware of campaigned on socialism or defunding the police in this general election. Note that the salary index for a given time period does not necessarily reflect exactly who is on staff at the present time. [33][34] In the general election, Spanberger defeated Vega with 52.3% of the vote. We live in a stream of history.. She added that it "degrades the value of the conversation if we're not actually talking about what the real concern is. How many more do you need to look at?, Gerald Ford once said: If Lincoln were alive today, hed roll over in his grave., Abigail Spanberger spent almost a decade as a CIA operations officer. Education. Spanberger has said she thinks the Democratic Party needs new leaders and that she would not back Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-California, as the next Speaker of the House if Democrats won the majority. ", "This Democrat thinks Joe Biden fundamentally misunderstood his mandate Chris Cillizza", "Moderate Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger says Americans didn't elect Biden to be FDR", "Election 2018: Dave Brat and Abigail Spanberger", "Faith on the Hill: The religious composition of the 116th Congress", Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, United States representatives by seniority, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abigail_Spanberger&oldid=1142575641, This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 05:22. Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger greets voters on Saturday, Nov. 5 in Woodbridge, VA. . She applied for a job with the CIA and had a confidential offer by 2002. "The President's actions violate his oath of office, endanger our national security, and betray the public trust", she said. Speaking in 2002 in Nashville, during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, Bush had this to say about Iraqs threat to the United States: There's an old saying in Tennessee I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee that says, fool me once, shame on shame on you. 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 . Abigail Spanberger spent almost a decade as a CIA operations officer. Now, she's a third-term Virginia congresswoman who was just named to one of two committees that oversees the work of U.S.. [64][65][66] Spanberger took issue with Trump after police used tear gas and rubber bullets on peaceful protestors and a priest during the George Floyd protests to clear a path so that he could have a photo op in front of St. John's Episcopal Church. The Postal Service said the un-redacted document, that included social security numbers and health information, was released by mistake in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. 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. The degree of unity among House Democrats was in stark contrast to last year's retreat. And we are blessed. She assumed office on January 3, 2019. Pressed on details, she gives few. Rep. Spanberger told The New York Times that voters didn't elect President Biden to govern like FDR. 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. 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.". [7] On June 12, 2018, Spanberger defeated Dan Ward in the Democratic primary election with 73% of the vote, receiving more votes than any other candidate in the Virginia primaries that day. His first challenge? Following her love of country, public service, and languages, Abigail joined the CIA as a case officer. She's running unopposed in her party for a third term, and there will be no. 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,. It's like it was like Special Olympics, or something." Prince William County supervisor and former law enforcement officer Yesli Vega defeated five GOP opponents on her way to a tight 29-24-20 percent victory spread. As a Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, she will continue to voice her unwavering support for U.S. diplomats, law enforcement, intelligence officers, and civil servants who work every day at home and abroad to identify dangerous threats, prevent tragedies, and save American lives. She defeated Yesli Vega, an. Expanding Access to Affordable Healthcare Coverage 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. I know the language. Meet Abigail. Jones doesnt let the tough reelection fight thats already brewing for Spanberger back home faze him, even as his team is still settling in at the Capitol. [50], As of June 2022, Spanberger had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time. WASHINGTON A key group of House Democrats in swing seats elected Rep. Abigail Spanberger (Va.) on Tuesday to serve as the first dedicated representative to House Democratic leadership of. When she saw partisan politics and division threatening the country she dedicated her life to defend, Abigail decided to run for Congress. Rep. Abigail Spanberger's 2020 Report Card Representative from Virginia's 7th District Democrat Serving Jan 3, 2019 - Jan 3, 2025 These statistics cover Spanberger's record during the 116th Congress (Jan 3, 2019-Jan 3, 2021) and compare her to other representatives also serving at the end of the session. Those did not trickle down to employees.. The days go by so quickly., The toughest days are probably MTRs motions to recommit, he said. 32.52% of Virginia residents on Medicare use Medicare Advantage. Strengthening Workforce Training & Apprenticeships We discussed tariff relief, initiating new and immediate imports, and the possibility of using the Defense Production Act. It was watching that example that led me to decide that I too wanted to step forward and run.. They live in Glen Allen, Virginia. 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. I know the culture, Spanberger told The Associated Press in a recent interview in her office. [8] She said she gathered intelligence about nuclear proliferation and terrorism. She's someone that works hard and is focused on the mission. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) and Trent Kelly (R-MS-01) today introduced bipartisan legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Americans who served in World War II with the Canadian and British militaries prior to Americas declaration of war. [40][41] In the 2019 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election on the opening day of the 116th United States Congress, Spanberger voted for U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos, an Illinois Democrat, joining 11 other Democrats who did not back Nancy Pelosi. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, she is working to make sure Virginia employers and employees are able to recover and succeed. The Virginia Democrat and former CIA officer won reelection in a race that was considered a toss-up. Virginians deserve strong access to quality, affordable health insurance, and Rep. Spanberger is fighting to expand healthcare coverage for everyone. Rep. Abigail Spanberger on Twitter: "RT @PWCPolice: Thank you to Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger for meeting with #PWCPD @ChiefNewsham and Senior Staff today at our Central District Station to review current concerns in our #community. 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. [Podcast: These Democratic women dont want to be show ponies]. Congresswoman: They Ran to the Sound of the Guns WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. She applied for a job with the CIA and had a confidential offer by 2002. The bill requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), who manage prescription drug benefits for health insurance companies, to publicize the rebates, discounts, and price concessions they negotiate, via a website hosted by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Spanberger, who has also worked for the U.S. Abigail has consistently been ranked as the most bipartisan Member of Congress from Virginia as well as the one of the most bipartisan Members of Congress overall. It was his father who shaped his sense of public service and taught him to go where the problems are. His parents went to segregated schools in Meridian, Mississippi, and his father marched across the bridge in Selma, Alabama, on Bloody Sunday, as white state troopers wielded their nightsticks against proponents of civil rights. She believes in stabilizing the Affordable Care Act and preserving its protections for the more than 1.3 million Virginians with pre-existing conditions. In the U.S. House, Abigail serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Agriculture Committee. In February 2022 Chesterfield mother Shannon Davis and her son, Joshua, appeared with President Joe Biden and Rep. Abigail Spanberger, R-7th, in Culpeper to urge lower prescription drug prices . [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. That came after a job in the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division and a stint as a federal prosecutor. Trading in his role as Dianne Feinsteins legislative director, he moved over to the House, accepting a job as chief of staff for newcomer Abigail Spanberger. Although Biden hasn't officially announced his reelection bid, it's widely expected he will seek another term, which means his fate and those of House Democrats are likely tied together. Abigail Spanberger has always served her country and community. They co-wrote a Washington Post opinion piece explaining their support for an impeachment inquiry, writing: "Congress must determine whether the president was indeed willing to use his power and withhold security assistance funds to persuade a foreign country to assist him in an upcoming election." 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 . She decided ultimately to leave the CIA. "Getting this legislation to President Biden's desk and signed into law was one of my top priorities this . ", During his speech, Biden brought out a mock-up of a sign for an infrastructure project in Baltimore to rebuild a tunnel. The relationship between Congress and the U.S. intelligence community can be uneasy an. [11], In July 2017, Spanberger announced her candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in Virginia's 7th congressional district in the 2018 election against incumbent Republican Dave Brat, a Tea Party movement member. Postal Inspection Service. That language added to a bipartisan background check bill may have angered some progressives and dismayed party leadership, but Jones said hes always thinking of whats right for Spanbergers 7th District, which cuts a long vertical path through central Virginia, west of Richmond. A former federal law enforcement officer and CIA officer, Rep. Spanbergers career in public service has focused on protecting American families and economic interests from a wide range of domestic and foreign threats. [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. [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. $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, sweeping climate, health care and tax bill, Biden's decision not to use his veto power, Big stores see how we spend. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. Postal Service. Spanberger, a former CIA agent, distanced herself from the defund movement during her 2020 campaign. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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. May it please the court, I am Roscoe Jones on behalf of the United States of America, Jones recited. @RepSpanberger" Note that the salary index for a given time period does not necessarily reflect exactly who is on staff at the present time. Allies Supporting our Servicemembers & their Families "I know the lingo. This year, staff for both the national Republican and Democratic Parties say they will be looking to this race on Election Night as potentially an early sign of how the night will unfold across the country. [12][13][14] She made the final decision to run after the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. [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. [28] Calling the elections "a failure" from a congressional standpoint, she singled out Republican attack ads decrying "socialism" and the movement to "defund the police" as prime reasons the Democratic Party lost seats in swing districts. 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. [43] She supports a public option for healthcare via the proposed Medicare-X Choice Act. "You tell us what you need to help us understand the impact that it's having on all of your district and your folks, and we're going to get it done," Biden said. Addressing the Opioid Abuse & Addiction Epidemic The reality of divided government means it's unlikely Democrats will pass any major legislation, forcing them to instead go on the defensive and tout the legislation they've already passed. [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. "As a former intelligence officer, I know that countries are watching us. She is a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C., and a Pennsylvania native. Bush. 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. LegiStorm is constantly adding new information on the people, places and reports in our database. She grew up in Henrico County, Virginia, and is a proud graduate of the University of Virginia. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She began her career of public service as a federal law enforcement officer working narcotics and money laundering cases with the 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. 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. [53] She has introduced legislation that would require lawmakers, as well as their spouses and dependent children, to place assets in a blind trust while in office. I know because I wrote up those reports you know, theres fighting with these two factions and this is what it means.'. 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 . Abigail Spanberger, a congressional candidate, had a 12-year career with the CIA. Adapting to the tempo. Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, who's being targeted by the GOP as she runs for re-election in a competitive district, spotlights her efforts to lower gas prices. [52], Spanberger supports banning members of Congress from trading stocks. She says it was her daughter, then in kindergarten, who asked them if they could move back to Virginia. It was like going from General Motors to a startup, he said. 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 [], Proudly Serving Virginias Seventh District. Theyre grossly overqualified, he boasted of the full-time staff of 17. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Shes spoken to too many families who have lost loved ones to addiction and overdose. 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. She worked undercover her entire time at the Agency collecting intelligence, managing assets, and overseeing high-profile programs to combat terrorism and keep Americans safe. After eight years, Spanberger had several choices for her next posting, from Kenya to Costa Rica. [50], According to FiveThirtyEight's congressional vote tracker, Spanberger voted with President Donald Trump 6.9% of the timeabout one seventh of the expected tally (49.1%) when factoring in the district's partisan leaning and general partisanship in Congress. 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. 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. Abigail Davis Spanberger, the Representative from Virginia - in Congress from 2023 through Present. ABIGAIL SPANBERGER IS ONE OF A GROWING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO SAY " ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. [46][47], Although not a member of Congress when it passed, Spanberger criticized the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act supported by President Donald Trump, arguing that its permanent tax cuts for corporations would increase the national debt. Abigail Spanberger has always served her country and community.