The Virginia Police Benevolent Association is splitting its endorsements for statewide races this year, backing Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger for governor and Republicans for lieutenant governor and attorney general.
In endorsing Spanberger, the group cited her work in Congress.
“As a Member of Congress, she repeatedly voted to increase funding for local police departments and sheriff’s offices — and she was relentless in pushing her bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act across the finish line to secure the earned benefits of thousands of Virginia’s retired police officers,” the Virginia Police Benevolent Association president Joe Woloszyn said in a statement.
Spanberger worked in federal law enforcement with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service before joining the Central Intelligence Agency.
The candidates answered a questionnaire and sat down for panel interviews with around 30 law enforcement officers from around the commonwealth. The group represents almost 11,000 law enforcement members in Virginia.
Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears’ campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but she has been running on supporting police, and has accused Spanberger of not “backing the blue.”
“We have brought back the morale in our law enforcement,” Earle-Sears said during a campaign event in Hopewell earlier this month. “Because we understand that when we dial 911, they’re coming to rescue us. They’re coming to get us, and if they’re not there, you know what happens, anarchy — we can’t afford [Spanberger].
Underscoring their nonpartisan stance, the group also endorsed Republican lieutenant governor nominee John Reid and Attorney General Jason Miyares.
Splitting tickets on endorsements is unusual, especially at a time when Republicans have typically dominated law enforcement support.
“They endorsed who they thought they were would do the better job for the members,” said Rich Goszka, the Virginia staff representative for Southern States Police Benevolent Association, which is the parent organization for VPBA.
“We’re looking at the issues where we could get our members benefits, looking at the whole political picture,” Goszka continued. “John Reid has a track record of supporting veterans and has a big pro police platform.”
And for Miyares, Goszka said they have endorsed him since his time in the House of Delegates. “He’s all about law and order. He’s a good AG.”
By endorsing candidates from both parties, the VPBA says it can better advance its priorities.
“We have the person at the top in government that can help fix some of these structural issues and law enforcement issues, and we have the AG that can help with law and order and law enforcement,” Goszka said.