Spanberger Rallies Warren County Democrats at Apple House Event in Linden

Democratic nominee for governor Abigail Spanberger made a lively and well-attended stop at the Apple House in Linden on Friday morning, addressing a packed house as part of her eight-day bus tour across Virginia. The tour, which is taking her to all corners of the Commonwealth, aims to connect directly with voters and share her message of affordability, safer communities, and stronger public schools.

Spanberger, who served as U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 7th District from 2019 to 2025, is the Democratic Party’s nominee in the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election, running against Republican nominee and current lieutenant governor Winsome Earle-Sears. If elected, Spanberger would become the first woman to serve as governor of Virginia.

Inside the Apple House, supporters filled the event space to hear from Spanberger, who entered to cheers and applause. “Thank you. I love you so much,” she said warmly. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to be here and to say thank you.”

Spanberger spoke about her Virginia roots and career in public service. The daughter of a police officer and a nurse, she grew up understanding the value of service and hard work. “I knew I wanted to follow in their footsteps,” she said, explaining how she first served as a federal agent, then as a CIA officer focused on national security and counterterrorism.

In 2014, she and her husband moved back to Virginia to raise their family, a decision inspired by their five-year-old daughter, who said, “Everyone we love lives in Virginia.”

Spanberger entered politics in 2018, driven by her concern over the division she observed following the 2016 election. She went on to flip a Republican-held district that hadn’t elected a Democrat since 1968, becoming the first woman to represent Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.

Now running for governor, she has laid out a clear platform focused on improving the lives of working Virginians. “As governor, I want to have the strongest public schools in the country,” she said, pledging to address teacher shortages, increase pay, and expand mental health services for students. “Our kids deserve to dream big about their future.”

Spanberger also addressed economic concerns. “At the pharmacy counter, in the housing market, with the energy bill in the mail, Virginians are struggling,” she said. Her plan includes policy proposals to lower costs, expand housing options, and give localities the tools they need to support working families.

She warned about the impact of federal policy changes on Virginia’s health care system, particularly in rural areas. “If the bill that passed the House passes the Senate… hundreds of thousands of Virginians will lose their health care,” she said, noting that six rural hospitals across the state could close. “That impact is dire.”

Spanberger called for stable, focused leadership. “I will be a governor who stands up against the chaos, prioritizing our communities and our Commonwealth,” she said.

In her closing message, she painted a vision for Virginia’s future: “A place where families can live affordably, where kids go to safe, well-funded schools, where teachers are respected, and where the air is clean and the water is safe to drink. Where that little girl’s rights are protected, and her dreams are supported.”

She urged attendees to stay engaged and encourage others to join in. “Please visit my website, abigailspanberger.com. Make sure your friends, family, and neighbors know there’s an election this November,” she said. “And please, vote for me.”

The Linden stop was one of many on Spanberger’s eight-day bus tour through Virginia, part of her strategy to reach voters face-to-face in every region of the state.