Spanberger rejects using Virginia gubernatorial win as shutdown permission

Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger didn’t mince words when asked whether congressional Democrats should view her election — and the success of other Democrats last Tuesday — as permission to continue the government shutdown.

“Absolutely not,” Spanberger said Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.” “Our victory was based on a campaign addressing concerns about costs and chaos. My campaign over the past two years has been based on listening to the challenges people face across Virginia.”

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Abigail Spanberger campaigning in Virginia on June 26, 2025. (Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

“It is the chaos coming from Washington that has had such a serious impact on Virginians,” she added.

Virginia is home to more than 147,000 public workers, many of whom have not been paid since the government shutdown began. This is the third highest concentration of government workers in any state, according to Library of Congress records.

Spanberger won last week alongside fellow Democrats in New Jersey, New York City and a Democratic-run California runoff. Following election night, some observers suggested the results reflected public unrest over the government shutdown — and tacit support for the deadlocked Democratic position.

Even President Donald Trump suggested that Republicans had underperformed due to the shutdown.

“We didn’t expect a victory last night,” Trump said the day after the election. “Very Democratic areas. I don’t think it’s good for Republicans. I don’t think it’s good for anyone. We had an interesting evening. The lockdown was a big, negative factor for Republicans.”

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President Donald Trump speaks during a breakfast with Senate and House Republicans in the State Dining Room of the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

Republicans and Democrats remain at odds over how to fund the government as the shutdown that began Oct. 1 enters its 40th day. Republicans have introduced a short-term spending bill that would keep the lights on through Nov. 21, but Democrats have blocked those efforts 14 times.

Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have demanded that Congress first address the expiration of COVID-era Obamacare subsidies before considering spending legislation.

Spanberger disagrees with that approach, saying lawmakers should focus their attention on opening government above health concerns.

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speak with reporters following their meeting with President Donald Trump and Republican leaders on the government funding crisis, at the Capitol in Washington, September 29, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

“Virginians want to see open government. I hope we see a Congress, a Senate and ultimately a president lead us in that direction,” Spanberger said. “The government must open, and it must open immediately.”

She called on the president to facilitate negotiations on spending.

“We need the president to show leadership, bring people together and work to complete all necessary negotiations, whether before or after,” Spanberger said.

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The Senate remains in session this weekend as lawmakers seek to break the impasse. It is not yet clear whether the Senate will vote a 15th time on Sunday on a new proposal to extend short-term funding.