Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) is leaning heavily into economic issues in her campaign for governor as Democrats seek a winning blueprint going into next year’s midterm elections.

Spanberger has an advantage going into the off-year election, with most polls showing her leading Lt. Gov. Winsome Earl-Sears (R) by six to 12 points.

As a centrist Democrat, Spanberger is also seen as a notable contrast to progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani in deep-blue New York City. The two races, along with the New Jersey gubernatorial race in which Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D) is running, come amid questions over what Democratic candidates should prioritize as part of a strategy to win.

“I think every location is going to be different, right? I feel quite confident saying I’d probably never get elected in New York City, and it’s a good thing because I’m never going to run there,” Spanberger told The Hill during an exclusive sit-down conversation in Hampton, Va., when asked whether there is enough room in Democratic Party tent for moderates like her and centrists like Mamdani.

“On a national landscape, my goal is to make sure that despite some of the chaos coming out of Washington, we have a governor who puts Virginia first,” she said.

In her race for the Virginia governor’s mansion, Spanberger has stayed laser-focused on affordability, an issue that Republicans capitalized on in 2024 but continue........

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