The race for Virginia’s governorship has sharpened around transgender participation in school sports, with Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger and Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears taking starkly different approaches to the issue.
Spanberger, a former congresswoman and mother of three, is countering Republican attack ads that accuse her of supporting policies that allow transgender girls to compete in female athletics.
In a recent campaign spot, she described herself as both a mother and a former law enforcement officer, pledging to prioritize children’s safety and remove divisive politics from classrooms.
Her message emphasizes parental involvement and improving school quality, while avoiding direct answers on specific transgender policy questions.
Her opponent, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, has built her campaign on a familiar Republican theme of parental rights in education, echoing the strategy that propelled Glenn Youngkin to the governorship in 2021.
She has accused Spanberger of undermining girls’ sports and has pledged to “defend kids” and “empower parents.” At rallies, she has declared, “Girls are girls and boys are boys,” making gender identity in schools a centerpiece of her platform.
The debate over transgender athletes has become a potent cultural issue in Virginia politics, drawing from both national trends and local concerns.
Republicans are hoping to mobilize religious conservatives and swing voters wary of changes in school policies, while Democrats face internal divisions about how directly to confront the matter.
Polling shows Spanberger with a lead, but the issue of transgender rights continues to dominate headlines, overshadowing other campaign themes such as the economy and infrastructure.
Observers say Spanberger’s cautious responses reflect a balancing act—seeking to avoid alienating progressive supporters while addressing concerns among moderates and independents.
With less than two months until Election Day, the clash over youth sports and gender identity is set to remain one of the most contentious flashpoints in Virginia’s high-stakes gubernatorial contest.