The Climate Crisis Democrats strongly believe in our responsibility to serve as stewards of our environment and public lands for current and future generations She has voiced her support for stronger border security measures but opposes Trump's proposed wall. That's especially true now as lawmakers demand answers about classified documents found in the private possession of two presidents and the Biden administration's response to a suspected Chinese spy balloon. 11/11/22 3:30 PM ET News Five midterm surprises in the House Abigail Spanberger May 2020 - Nov 2020 7 months. Charlotte McWilliams met Spanberger when they were trainee officers before going to the CIA's academy in rural Virginia known as The Farm. They were both sent on to overseas postings Spanberger in Europe, McWilliams in Africa and bonded over their shared experiences doing clandestine work while becoming new mothers at the same time. She began her career of public service as a federal law enforcement officer working narcotics and money laundering cases with the U.S. Message: I care. The mission isnt just Go, Democrats, go, he said. The Republican political action committee, known as the Congressional Leadership Fund, ran ads claiming she worked at a school that produced some of the worlds most dangerous terrorists. Spanberger, a former CIA case officer who unseated former Rep. Dave Brat (R-VA) in 2018, has been in a heated battle to retain her swing seat, with nonpartisan handicapper Cook Political Report. The reality of divided government means it's unlikely Democrats will pass any major legislation, forcing them to instead go on the defensive and tout the legislation they've already passed. Vice-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and other members of the Problem Solvers Caucus hold a news conference to show support for their bipartisan infrastructure bill, which was written by both Democrat and Republican senators and representatives at the US Capitol in Washington, DC., on Friday, July 30 . Even before the attack [], Bipartisan Bill Would Give Borrowers Regular, Pertinent Information Related to Projected Payments, Accrued Interest, & Other Personalized Details WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Spanberger supports a national response that invests in preventing overdoses, expanding access to treatment, and supporting individuals in recovery from addiction as they seek to reclaim their health and well-being. [59], Spanberger objected to Trump's travel bans from certain predominantly Muslim countries and argued that they would aid jihadist propaganda by allowing a portrayal of the United States as an anti-Muslim country. A few years later, during the 2016 presidential election, she started to discuss with her friends the possibility of running for office. She supports universal coverage through the adoption of a public option and, in Congress, she advocates for solutions that achieve real progress, respond to the unique challenges of Virginias rural communities, support the Commonwealths expansion of Medicaid coverage, and preserve funding for critical programs like the Childrens Health Insurance Plan. In the U.S. House, Abigail serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Agriculture Committee. Kuster, who said she lives in "purple world," said members have been in close talks with Cabinet officials and the White House about how to work together to make intricate legislation like the infrastructure bill accessible to their constituents. Democrat Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) announced she will run for reelection in Virginia's new seventh congressional district which she currently represents after the redistricting maps were unanimously approved, putting her current residence outside the new lines. [44][45], On January 31, 2023, Spanberger was among seven Democrats to vote for H.R.497:Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, a bill which would lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers. "[43] During a Committee on Foreign Affairs meeting in 2019, Spanberger asked the Trump administration to reverse its isolationist policies, saying, "its in [the US's] national interest to reinforce our stature as a global leader on international environmental and energy issues. Abigail Anne Spanberger (ne Davis, August 7, 1979) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Virginia's 7th congressional district since 2019. Jones doesnt let the tough reelection fight thats already brewing for Spanberger back home faze him, even as his team is still settling in at the Capitol. Trading in his role as Dianne Feinsteins legislative director, he moved over to the House, accepting a job as chief of staff for newcomer Abigail Spanberger. Eleanor Holmes Norton of D.C. '', President Bill Clinton cut to the heart of the matter during his grand jury testimony in the Monica Lewinsky affair in 1998 when he infamously said: It all depends on what the meaning of the word is is.. Abigail Spanberger has served as the Democratic congresswoman for Virginia's 7th Congressional District since 2019. Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger held onto her seat Tuesday evening, per the Associated Press, beating back a challenge by Yesli Vega, a Trump-endorsed county supervisor who made national headlines for her inaccurate comments on pregnancies resulting from rape. Congresswoman, 2019 - Present. Any plan released by this administration must make sure that formula is stocked on our shelves for all Virginia parents, crack down on price gouging, and increase imports of formula from abroad. Postal Inspection Service. Although Biden hasn't officially announced his reelection bid, it's widely expected he will seek another term, which means his fate and those of House Democrats are likely tied together. [67][64], Spanberger opposed Democrats' attempts to amend the Insurrection Act of 1807, saying that amending the rarely used law would not accomplish what Democrats intended. Virginia's fresh faces in Congress, "RESULTS: Nick Freitas squares off against Democratic incumbent Abigail Spanberger in Virginia's 7th Congressional District", "Eric Cantor loses GOP primary to tea party challenger Dave Brat", "Abigail Spanberger becomes the fifth female candidate vying for the Democratic nomination to run against Republican Congressman Dave Brat", "Abigail Spanberger easily defeats Dan Ward in 7th District Democratic primary", "Spanberger wins Democratic primary in Virginia's 7th Congressional District", "Open Secrets breakdown of the 7th District", "Democratic House candidate Abigail Spanberger suffers the kind of election year smear John McCain would recognize", "Virginia's 7th House District Election Results: Dave Brat vs. Abigail Spanberger", "Abigail Spanberger Just Beat Tea Party Darling Dave Brat in Virginia", "After nearly 50 years of Republican control, this Virginia House district could flip to the Democrats", Virginia presidential results by congressional district, "Abigail Spanberger declares victory over Freitas in 7th Congressional District race", "Spanberger criticizes Democrats' strategy in caucus call", "Analysis: This Democratic congresswoman just spoke some hard truth to her party", "Democratic leaders play a ridiculous blame game with progressives", "State of the Union: Interview with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)", "Trump endorses Yesli Vega, Spanberger's GOP challenger", "Virginia Seventh Congressional District Election Results", "SPANBERGER SELECTED TO SERVE ON U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS & U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE", "Peterson Announces House Agriculture Subcommittee Chairs for the 116th Congress", "New Democrat Coalition Inducts 30 Members-Elect and Elects New Leadership", "Democrats Didn't Always Pick The Most Progressive Candidate And That Might Help Them In November", "The moderate squad: swing-state Democrats wary of leftward path", "Virginia congresswoman one of 12 Democrats to oppose Pelosi's bid for speaker", "A look at where Brat and Spanberger stand on the issues", https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3839808-house-gop-passes-bill-to-end-covid-19-national-emergency/, https://projects.propublica.org/represent/votes/118/house/1/104, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/seven-democrats-join-house-gop-lift-vaccine-mandate-healthcare-work, https://projects.propublica.org/represent/votes/118/house/1/98, "Spanberger Pushes for Final Progress on USMCA: "We Need to Get this Done", "Why these Democrats want to make a trade deal with Trump", "In a historically Republican stronghold, Democrat Abigail Spanberger looks to hang on", "Spanberger opposes latest stimulus package, saying it 'goes far beyond pandemic relief', "Spanberger leads bipartisan effort to save 340B Drug Pricing Program", "Pelosi faces pushback over stock trade defense", "Congressman Schiff, Bipartisan Group Introduces Act to Ban Members of Congress & Their Families from Trading Individual Stocks", "Citing Threats to National Security, Representative Elaine Luria, Va.-2, Takes Climate Change Head On", "Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger quizzed on immigration in first town hall", "Seven more lawmakers including six Democrats have signed on to a letter pushing Joe Biden to send F-16 jets to Ukraine", "Spanberger bill aims to shed light on prescription drug pricing", "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index", "Seven freshman Democrats: These allegations are a threat to all we have sworn to protect", "Vulnerable Democrats to vote to impeach Trump", "Trump's Response to Protests Draws Bipartisan Rebuke in Congress", "CIA veterans who monitored crackdowns abroad see troubling parallels in Trump's handling of protests", "George Floyd White House Protest: Donald Trump Acting Like Dictator During Racial Tensions, Intelligence And Defense Officials Warn", "Trump's tear gas photo-op was 'frightening' to authoritarianism experts, who warn that his behavior will only get worse without 'fierce opposition', "Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden? Abigail Rindo is the narrative design director at King, the company behind popular mobile game franchises such as Candy Crush, Farm . "As a former CIA officer who worked terrorism cases, I find it particularly disgraceful that they would try and make that some sort of leap or claim when I was in fact a long-term substitute teacher for a bunch of kids, she said in response. Abigail Rindo at King. To see staff salaries for aides in the personal office of Rep. Abigail Spanberger, select a time period below. As Rep. Spanberger meets with families, patients, providers, and community healthcare organizations across Virginias Seventh District; she repeatedly hears about the financial struggles facing seniors, families, and those with chronic conditions as their prescription drug costs continue to rise. [30] Spanberger's remarks were disputed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who noted that Democrats kept the House, and progressive Representative Rashida Tlaib, who said the Democratic Party should "study the results" before dismissing progressives who represent their districts. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., speaks about her past work as a Central Intelligence Agency officer and her recent appointment to the House Intelligence Committee during an interview at her congressional offices on Feb. 8 in Washington. [68], In a November 2021 interview with the New York Times, Spanberger criticized Biden after the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election, saying, "Nobody elected him to be F.D.R., they elected him to be normal and stop the chaos. That language added to a bipartisan background check bill may have angered some progressives and dismayed party leadership, but Jones said hes always thinking of whats right for Spanbergers 7th District, which cuts a long vertical path through central Virginia, west of Richmond. I take my commitment to protecting the people who are still doing the job that I once did and the foreign nationals who are risking their lives as well to provide information the U.S. government very seriously.. "[31][32], After the 2020 United States redistricting cycle, Spanberger's district was radically redrawn, and no longer included her home in Henrico County. The House has this really kinetic, fast pace, Jones said in an interview this week, after rushing back to the office. March 3, 2023. Years of high-profile fights over intelligence matters have taken a toll, with some Republicans accusing the agencies of being part of a deep state" controlling U.S. politics. "I spoke with White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain yesterday and today about the urgency of this shortage. Republicans have been particularly adept this year at using those procedural motions to send a message and put moderate Democrats like his boss in a tight spot. She had to work with the CIA to get her service record declassified to run for Congress and now on the trail sticks to carefully scripted lines, approved by the agency, when talking about her work. [10] In 2017, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed her to the Virginia Fair Housing Board. Even when you don't agree on something, you're able to build trust with her, which is something I always appreciated. As an example, she points to visits in her district from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg showing new bridges under construction and White House infrastructure coordinator Mitch Landrieu highlighting a new interstate interchange. [6] In the early 2000s, she was a postal inspector, working on money laundering and narcotics cases. She won reelection in 2020 and 2022. Rep. Abigail Spanberger on Twitter: "RT @PWCPolice: Thank you to Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger for meeting with #PWCPD @ChiefNewsham and Senior Staff today at our Central District Station to review current concerns in our #community. 214 Massachusetts Avenue NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 548-5280 Visit our sister site: The Heritage Foundation In a statement to BuzzFeed News, Joe Pounder, the chief executive of America Rising, said, "America Rising . It gave me chills. Also, aides for any relevant committees, leadership offices, campaign committees and leadership PACs will not be included here, nor do we have data for unpaid staff such as interns or people who are "detailed" from the GAO, executive branch or private sector. Subscribe to receive news alerts and updates on issues important to you and your family. She is a member of the Democratic Party.Spanberger is a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer.. Spanberger defeated Republican incumbent Dave Brat in 2018, ending the Republican Party's 36-year hold on the district. Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. New delegates to the Virginia Assembly, like Danica Roem, the first openly transgender legislator in the country, made national headlines. [58], Spanberger has called for a new version of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban that expired in 2004. ", Before President George W. Bush was mangling the English language, it was his father, President George H.W. "If we did nothing nothing but implement what we've already passed and let the people know who did it for them, we win," Biden said during an energetic speech Wednesday as House Democrats kicked off their annual three-day retreat in Baltimore. She represents a central Virginia seat that went for President Donald Trump by 6 points in 2016 - and where she appears to have barely eked out a victory by. The smear campaign, which attempted to tie her to terrorism, was based on an SF-86 application she completed to obtain security clearance, which was inappropriately released in breach of privacy rules. Abigail Anne Spanberger[1] (ne Davis, August 7, 1979) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from Virginia's 7th congressional district since 2019. She began her career of public service as a federal law enforcement officer working narcotics and money laundering cases with the U.S. I know the lingo. Rep. Spanberger is also working to reduce premiums in the insurance marketplace and to lower out-of-pocket costs. She argued that Democrats should watch Republican ads before deciding how to talk about issues and "not ever use the word 'socialist' or 'socialism' ever again". After years of working for an incumbent senator holding a safe seat, Roscoe Jones Jr. was ready to build something from scratch. Why Republicans and Democrats will be watching this race on election night. It may not be having the Cabinet or the president in your district every other week," New Hampshire Rep. Ann Kuster told NPR. The specifics of her cases remain classified. His team wrestles with every vote, even when time is tight and the night has been long. examining federal efforts to prevent, detect, and prosecute pandemic relief fraud to safeguard funds for all eligible americans She was hired by Royall & Company (now EAB). RM2GAEXGB - Washington, United States. That came after a job in the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division and a stint as a federal prosecutor. Proudly Serving Virginias Seventh District. Brown said this is all part of the strategy to keep the impact of Democrats' votes in Washington top of mind for their constituents. Legislative Director to Rep. Abigail Spanberger at U.S. House of Representatives Washington, District of Columbia, United States 1K followers 500+ connections [7] On June 12, 2018, Spanberger defeated Dan Ward in the Democratic primary election with 73% of the vote, receiving more votes than any other candidate in the Virginia primaries that day. She defeated Yesli Vega, an. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, she is working to make sure Virginia employers and employees are able to recover and succeed. [2] Spanberger was later a page for U.S. [2], In 2002 and 2003, Spanberger taught English literature as a substitute teacher at the Islamic Saudi Academy in Northern Virginia. Theyre grossly overqualified, he boasted of the full-time staff of 17. Rep. Spanberger released a statement : Spanberger Votes with Bipartisan Majority to Condemn World's Worst Dictators, Calls for House GOP Leadership to Also Bring Bills to the Floor to Address. "The President's actions violate his oath of office, endanger our national security, and betray the public trust", she said. The Virginia mother of three told Good Morning America during a sit-down interview in her kitchen this summer that she always had a desire to serve her country, an interest in government, and a love of languages. [43], Spanberger voted to allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be notified when undocumented immigrants attempt to purchase firearms, and voted against the House budget in summer 2019 because it failed to acknowledge the growing national debt. Chief of Staff - USDA-RMA. Submitted Comments (Click here for meetings with SEC officials) Comments have been received from individuals and entities using the following Letter Type A: 31 B: 24 C: 6,254 D: 5 Retrieved March 18, 2020. In the weeks since she was named to the intelligence committee, Spanberger says she's already recognizing some of the names and programs in the classified materials she's receiving. I spoke with White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain yesterday and today about the urgency of this shortage. She rejects talk of a deep state and called on other lawmakers not to promote conspiracy theories about intelligence or the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Memo: Emmers son has new job in Congress, As the pandemic ebbs, Minnesota lawmakers and their staff resume taking free trips. "This is news to me and I'm very disappointed," said Del. She was seen as one of the most vulnerable incumbents of the 2022 election cycle, with pre-election polls projecting a close race with Republican nominee Yesli Vega, a law enforcement officer endorsed by Governor Glenn Youngkin and former President Donald Trump. She attended J.R. Tucker High Schools Spanish immersion program and is a proud graduate of the University of Virginia. Abigail Spanberger spent almost a decade as a CIA operations officer. [50], As of June 2022, Spanberger had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time. "I am already seeing a number of my Republican colleagues who voted against these historic pieces of legislation want to claim credit. It was watching that example that led me to decide that I too wanted to step forward and run.. [54][55], Spanberger has called climate change "one of the greatest and most imminent threats to our economy, our national security, and our way of life" and promised to "stand up to attacks against science. Those did not trickle down to employees.. She won with 51% of the vote to Freitas's 49%. Postal Inspection Service before becoming a CIA officer focused on counterterrorism. I've committed adultery in my heart many times. To ensure our communities stay protected, Rep. Spanberger is fighting to reaffirm the importance of our countrys relationships with its key allies, including member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). If your intention was to visit my official House of Representatives website, please, Checks payable to "Spanberger for Congress". Rep. Spanberger told The New York Times that voters didn't elect President Biden to govern like FDR. The daughter of a nurse and a federal law enforcement officer who also served in the Army, she says she was drawn to national service and the idea of learning new languages and cultures. You can't be. Meet Abigail. Reinforcing the Importance of Diplomacy & Our Relationships with U.S. By Lindsey McPherson. After serving in CIA, lawmaker now has role overseeing it. And we are blessed. Please subscribe to keep reading. Brat shocked the nation when he defeated sitting House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in the Republican primary in 2014. FREDERICKSBURG, VA - The campaign of Rep. Abigail Spanberger a former federal law enforcement officer and CIA case officer released its latest ad, "Shocked." Now, she's a third-term Virginia congresswoman who was just named to one of two committees that oversees the work of U.S.. "Abigail Spanberger is . Abigail Spanberger has always served her country and community. Abigail Spanberger ( Democratic Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Virginia's 7th Congressional District. Her current term ends on January 3, 2023. After dipping his toe in all three branches of government, Jones said hes found the right place to serve: The Hill is a special place. When you put capital in the hands of the American worker, the American worker knows what to do with it, Brat said during their debate. Rep. Spanberger believes that protecting womens access to reproductive healthcare is a social and economic necessity. The next four years she was evaluated, physically and physiologically, and began to train for life undercover.I loved the idea of understanding people, places, concepts, concerns and large international questions, she said, describing her work. Whether they choose to go to college or not, Rep. Spanberger believes that all Virginia workers should have access to the education and training they need to achieve career success, earn a good living, and keep the Commonwealth the best state in the country for business. "No, no. [18] She won the November 6 general election by just over 6,600 votes. So don't feel sorry for don't cry for me, Argentina. [50] In November 2020, she described reducing the cost of prescription drugs as "the top priority of families in [her] district". [28] Calling the elections "a failure" from a congressional standpoint, she singled out Republican attack ads decrying "socialism" and the movement to "defund the police" as prime reasons the Democratic Party lost seats in swing districts. [9], In 2014, Spanberger left the CIA and entered the private sector. In some ways, Abigail Spanbergers story parallels dozens of other first-time female candidates across the country this year: a successful, smart woman driven to get involved in politics for the first time after President Trump was elected and eventually inspired to take on her Republican congressman. "We were right in the midst of one of the more challenging political debates and discussions about strategy and timing," Kuster said. The relationship between Congress and the U.S. intelligence community can be uneasy an. They wrote that if the allegations were true, they amounted to "a flagrant disregard for the law" and "a threat to all we have sworn to protect. WASHINGTON As former CIA Director David Petraeus recently told the House Intelligence Committee about the needs of the agency's workforce, one of the committees youngest members flashed a knowing smile and began to nod. Additionally, she is actively seeking innovative, bipartisan legislative solutions to help combat rising rates of maternal mortality in the United States, particularly within historically underserved and disadvantaged communities. In 2018, she became the first Democrat since 1968 to be elected to represent Virginias 7th Congressional district. Spanberger knows of what she speaks. The Postal Service said the un-redacted document, that included social security numbers and health information, was released by mistake in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. Even before the attack [], Bipartisan Bill Would Give Borrowers Regular, Pertinent Information Related to Projected Payments, Accrued Interest, & Other Personalized Details WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. She applied for a job with the CIA and had a confidential offer by 2002. She's running unopposed in her party for a third term, and there will be no. Speaking in 2002 in Nashville, during the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, Bush had this to say about Iraqs threat to the United States: There's an old saying in Tennessee I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee that says, fool me once, shame on shame on you. Spanberger grew up in the district in west of Richmond, Virginia, where she now lives again with her family and is running for office. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. "How do you make that real; how do you tell that story?" I know the . We have each others backs.. But Spanberger again prevailed by winning the district's shares of Henrico and Chesterfield counties by a combined 43,400 votes, five times her overall margin of 8,400 votes. Now, shes a third-term Virginia congresswoman who was just named to one. She's trustworthy, said Hurd, who left Congress after the 2020 election. We can't let that happen.". Spanberger defeated Brat in 2018. She decided ultimately to leave the CIA. [19] While Brat won eight of the district's ten counties, Spanberger dominated the two largest counties, Henrico and Chesterfield, by a combined margin of over 30,000 votes. The relationship between Congress and the U.S. intelligence services can be uneasy and is often adversarial. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07), Mike Waltz (R-FL-06), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-05) today introduced bipartisan legislation to increase transparency in the federal student loan process and to give borrowers additional tools to understand and decrease [], At Least 519 Protesters Have Been Killed by the Regime & More Than 19,000 Iranians Have Been Arrested Since the Death of Mahsa Amini In September 2022 WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger joined a bipartisan, bicameral effort urging the Biden Administration to impose stricter sanctions against members of the Iranian Parliament or [], Proudly Serving Virginias Seventh District. A former federal law enforcement officer and CIA officer, Rep. Spanbergers career in public service has focused on protecting American families and economic interests from a wide range of domestic and foreign threats. In 2017, three local state seats within Spanbergers own congressional district flipped from Republican to Democrat and some of the volunteers making phone calls and sending letters in her campaign offices described volunteering on local races in 2017 and then heading straight into helping Spanberger next. Currently serving Virginia District 7 Remember Lincoln, going to his knees in times of trial and the Civil War and all that stuff. Democrat running for U.S. Congress in Virginias 7th District. If Spanberger were to flip the seat, it would be a big win for Democrats. Postal Inspection Service, has represented Virginia's 7th District since she flipped the GOP-held seat in 2018 as part of a Democratic wave that retook .