Abigail Spanberger
Abigail Spanberger | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 1, 1978 New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Adam Spanberger |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Virginia (BA) Purdue University (MBA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Abigail Spanberger is a former federal law enforcement agent and CIA Operations Officer, and a candidate in the 2018 elections for the US House of Representatives in Virginia's 7th congressional district.[1]
On June 12, 2018 she secured the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Representative Dave Brat.[2]
Early life and education[edit]
Abigail Spanberger was born on August, 1978 in New Jersey. When she was 13, her family relocated to the Short Pump area outside of Richmond, Virginia, and she attended Tucker High School.[3] While in high school, she joined the Spanish language immersion program which sparked her interest in languages. She speaks Spanish, French, German, and some Italian, and was later a page for Senator Chuck Robb.[3] She received her BA from the University of Virginia and an MBA from a joint program between the GISMA Business School in Germany and Purdue University's Krannert School of Management.[3] She later married Adam Spanberger and had three daughters. In 2013, she and her family moved back to Henrico County.
Career in the federal government[edit]
Post Office[edit]
In the early 2000s Spanberger worked as a federal post inspector on money laundering cases, as well as to intercept shipments of illegal drugs into the United States.[4]
CIA Operations Officer[edit]
In 2006 Spanberger joined the Central Intelligence Agency as an Operations Officer. She worked overseas on classified matters of national security that included intelligence gathering on terrorism and nuclear proliferation.[5]
Activism[edit]
Upon exiting the federal government, Spanberger entered the private sector and was hired by EAB Royall where she worked to help academic institutions diversify their student bodies. She was appointed to serve on the Virginia Governor’s Fair Housing Board, which serves to ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing around the Commonwealth.[6] In 2017, she volunteered to help elect a number of Democratic candidates for the House of Delegates, including Debra Rodman, Schuyler VanValkenburg, and Dawn Adams.
Candidacy[edit]
In July of 2017, Spanberger announced her candidacy for Congress in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. She made the final decision to run in the wake of the House of Representatives' vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act.[4] During the primary she campaigned in all 10 counties in the Central Virginian district, holding over 100 community meet and greets to contrast her accessibility with that of Representative Brat.[7] The Spanberger campaign has claimed that they have recruited over 1000 volunteers as of June, 2018.[8]
On June 12, 2018 she defeated Dan Ward in a primary contest for the Democratic nomination with 73% of the vote, receiving more votes than any other candidate in the Virginia primaries that day.[9] Her campaign has outraised that of Dave Brat for three quarters in a row, with 53.7% of her donations coming from within the 7th District compared to Brat's 34%.[10]
Issues[edit]
Spanberger's campaign has said her top issues include safeguarding Social Security and Medicare into the future, fighting to ensure that every person has access to affordable and quality healthcare, strengthening our public education system and providing more opportunities for job training and apprenticeships, promoting economic growth that leads to higher wages and better jobs, protecting women’s healthcare, pursuing infrastructure programs such as broadband internet, and legislating in support of renewable energy efforts.[11]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Former CIA Officer Abigail Spanberger is on a mission for Virginia's 7th District". RVA Magazine. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ↑ "Spanberger wins Democratic primary in Virginia's 7th Congressional District". The Washington Post website. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Abigail Spanberger's passion for languages led her to the CIA". The Richmond Times-Dispatch website. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "This former CIA officer says she can beat Virginia Rep. Dave Brat". The Washington Examiner website. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ↑ "The operative: Abigail Spanberger". The Chesterfield Observer website. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ↑ "Abigail Spanberger: U.S. House, Virginia". EMILY's List website. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ↑ "Town Hall Commitment" (PDF). Abigail Spanberger campaign website. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ↑ "Gender Watch 2018". Gender Watch 2018 website. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ↑ "VPAP Election Night results". The Virginia Public Access Project website. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ↑ "Open Secrets breakdown of the 7th District". Open Secrets website. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
- ↑ "WTOP Interview". WTOP News website. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
External links[edit]
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