Spanberger’s fall from grace wasn’t ‘stunning’ — it was predictable

Political observers are calling Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s abrupt early drop in approval ratings “stunning.” They shouldn’t, because it isn’t.

For many Virginians — especially those of us who supported her candidacy in good faith — this moment feels less like a surprise and more like a confirmation.

Spanberger ran as a pragmatic, bipartisan problem-solver. She positioned herself as someone who would rise above party squabbles, focus on affordability, and restore a sense of steady, principled leadership in Richmond. That message resonated and caused her decisive win. 

And that is precisely why her early governing approach has been so disappointing.

Rather than govern as the centrist she promised to be, Spanberger has taken a noticeably partisan turn. Early executive actions and policy priorities have leaned heavily into national Democratic Party priorities, not the kitchen-table concerns that defined her campaign. For voters who expected balance and independence, this shift has eroded trust, which is hard to regain once lost.

Policy disagreements alone don’t explain the drop in approval. There’s a deeper issue at play: credibility.

During the campaign, I was among Spanberger’s strongest supporters and financial backers. Like others, I raised serious concerns about her co-nominee for attorney general — concerns rooted in his past remarks and broader questions of judgment and character. At the time, Spanberger acknowledged those concerns. In personal conversations, she went further, indicating that once elected she would address them directly — even suggesting the possibility of an investigation or leadership change if warranted.

That commitment mattered to our family. It signaled that Spanberger was willing to put principle above politics. Yet since taking office, there has been no meaningful indication that she intends to follow through. The same concerns she once publicly condemned now appear to have been set aside. The urgency is gone. The accountability is absent.

That disconnect is not a minor political inconsistency — rather, it cuts to the core of leadership. Voters can tolerate disagreement. What they struggle to accept is a gap between what is promised and what is done.

This pattern isn’t new. During the campaign, Spanberger declined to withdraw her support from now-Attorney General Jay Jones despite acknowledging his troubling behavior. In other words, she prioritized electoral unity over moral clarity. Now in office, that same instinct seems to be guiding her decisions.

Similarly, her approach to governance has at times favored public positioning over quiet, constructive engagement — a style that feels more partisan than pragmatic, more performative than problem-solving.

Taken together, these choices paint a picture that differs sharply from the one voters were sold.

None of this means Spanberger’s situation is beyond repair. As even her critics note, it’s early. Governors can reset, recalibrate, and reconnect with voters. But that requires more than better messaging or more press conferences. It requires a return to the core commitments that defined her campaign: independence, accountability, and a willingness to make difficult decisions, even when they carry political risk.

Right now, many Virginians are asking a simple question: Was the campaign the real Spanberger, or is the governorship?

Until that question is answered with clarity and consistency, her approval ratings won’t just dip — they will continue to reflect a broader erosion of trust. Without trust, even early missteps become lasting doubts, and Virginia deserves better than that.

Cayley Tull is an entrepreneur and co-founder and president of the Tullman Family Office.

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