by Brandon Jarvis
2025 gubernatorial hopeful Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Henrico) talked to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer about Donald Trump and the Jan. 6 Insurrection this weekend.
Spanberger is running for the Democratic nomination for governor and is not seeking reelection to the House of Representatives.
Spanberger was first asked about her opinion on the Supreme Court’s decision to take up Trump’s appeal. He is asking the court to overturn a decision in Colorado to leave him off their presidential ballot. The state decided he cannot appear on their primary election ballot due to Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution — which bans anyone from running for public office who has engaged in an insurrection or rebellion.
Maine’s Secretary of State also made the same decision.
Spanberger’s response: “I was in the House Chamber on January 6th. I was there as we evacuated those who were on the floor and those of us in the gallery were trapped in the Capitol Building. I was there as Capitol Police officers valiantly fought not only to protect us but our democracy, and I had a firsthand view of the very true reality, which is the President of the United States led an effort to try and stop Congress from certifying an election. Thankfully, because of the bravery of so many that day he was unsuccessful. The insurrectionists were unsuccessful, and that is why I am committed to ensuring we beat Donald Trump at the ballot box — because he cannot in any case return to the White House. The Supreme Court is going to render whatever decision it makes. I do look forward to watching that process, but no matter their decision it is imperative that Donald Trump not return to the White House and that we be continuing to lay the ground work here in Virginia and across the country to ensure his defeat.“
Spanberger was then asked if she believes Trump should be allowed on the ballot in Colorado.
“I’ll leave that to the attorneys who are arguing the case,” Spanberger responded. “Certainly, there was a case made in Colorado, the Secretary of State made a decision in Maine. Those are their decisions to make, the attorneys and the courts’ decisions to make, the Secretary of States’ decision to make. In Virginia, we anticipate he will be on the ballot pending any potential legal action that might occur at the Supreme Court. But the reality is we on the ground here in Virginia are working to ensure that he is defeated at the ballot box.”
CNN’s Wolf Blitzer then read a statement from Trump’s campaign to Spanberger, “We are confident that the fair-minded Supreme Court will unanimously affirm the civil rights of President Trump and the voting rights of all Americans in a ruling that will squash all of the remaining ballot challenge hoaxes once and for all.” Blitzer asked Spanberger is the Trump campaign should be confident about the case.
“This sort of statement is wholly consistent with the types of rhetoric we have heard from Donald Trump,” she said. “The fact that he would refer to the Constitution and one of its amendments as a hoax is absolutely ridiculous. The man was impeached by Democrats and Republicans alike for mounting an insurrection, for attempting to undermine our democracy, for refusing to do what is the most basic job of any person who is running a campaign or who loses a campaign, and that is demonstrating the peaceful transition of power. The former President did not do that. The former President egged on a violent crowd that attacked the United States Capitol. So he can say whatever he wants. His campaign can put out whatever statement they want. That doesn’t change the reality, and the reality is that this former President was a danger to our democracy and he continues to be that.”
Blitzer then pointed out that President Joe Biden referred to Jan. 6 and threats to democracy as a top issue for voters in 2024 and asked Spanberger if she agrees.
“I think there’s a variety of top issues, the economy, the fundamental rights of Virginians, of women, of Americans,” she said. “But all of that, all of it relies on us having a functioning democracy. And when the election is between someone who upholds the Constitution and someone who would defile it and seek to undo it, that is a foundational element of what the 2024 election is about.”
Spanberger is running against Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney for the Democratic nomination. There are no Republican candidates in the race at this time.
