TL;DR
- GOP’s Winsome Earle-Sears launches anti-trans ads targeting Abigail Spanberger.
- Culture war attacks mirror Donald Trump’s 2024 playbook.
- Ads claim Spanberger supports trans youth rights in sports and schools.
- Spanberger hits back, calling attacks “lies” and pushing safety and community trust.
- LGBTQ advocates warn the tactic fuels stigma and distracts from real issues.
Culture Wars Hijack Virginia’s Governor Race
With the Virginia governor’s race barreling toward the finish line, Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is dusting off the oldest, shadiest page in the GOP’s 2024 playbook — and scribbling it all over the airwaves: anti-trans fearmongering.
In a blitz of new ads, Earle-Sears accuses Democratic rival Abigail Spanberger of “voting to allow men in girls’ sports, bathrooms, and locker rooms” and backing policies that would keep parents in the dark if their child comes out as transgender at school. The claims lean on her 2021 vote for the Equality Act — legislation aimed at protecting LGBTQ Americans — and on a 2022 social media post where Spanberger slammed then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin for trying to “out” trans students.
The language in the GOP’s attack ads is blunt, vicious, and ripped straight from Donald Trump’s anti-Kamala Harris campaign rhetoric: “Spanberger is for they/them, not us,” the ad sneers. Another TV spot warns she “wants boys to play sports and share locker rooms with little girls.” It’s a not-so-subtle attempt to paint her as a danger to children — and to rile up conservative voters.
Spanberger Claps Back — and LGBTQ Advocates Call Out the Harm
Spanberger, who had largely avoided taking the bait until now, finally fired back. In a direct-to-camera ad, the former federal law enforcement officer slammed the claims as “lies,” stressing her history of protecting children from predators. “Nothing matters more to me than the safety of all our kids,” she said, pledging to “get politics out of our schools” and let local communities decide what’s best.
Her campaign notes she’s also been endorsed by the Virginia Police Benevolent Association, which praised her record on public safety. Meanwhile, Earle-Sears’ camp doubled down, accusing her of enabling “child predators” and “students feeling unsafe” — an incendiary framing that LGBTQ advocates warn only inflames transphobia and puts vulnerable youth at risk.
This is more than just dirty politics — it’s a strategy built on turning trans kids into political punching bags. Similar attacks have already popped up in other races, from New Jersey’s Jack Ciattarelli to conservative groups hammering Mikie Sherrill. In Virginia, Earle-Sears’ team is trying to replicate Glenn Youngkin’s 2021 win, where he capitalized on cultural outrage to mobilize parents.
A Risky Gamble in a Blue-Tilting State
But it’s unclear if this play will work. Polling shows the race within the margin of error, with Spanberger enjoying a cash advantage and outspending Earle-Sears nearly 2 to 1 on ads this year. Republicans argue the anti-trans angle is an “80/20 issue” with voters, but there’s no data showing Virginians prioritize it over real kitchen-table concerns like jobs, healthcare, and costs — Spanberger’s main message.
The GOP’s focus on bathrooms and locker rooms ignores that these policies are about letting kids feel safe and respected. Advocates point out the attacks stigmatize already marginalized LGBTQ youth, especially trans students who face higher rates of bullying and suicide. The fear-mongering also echoes decades-old racist tactics — highlighted when a protester at an Arlington school board meeting held a sign reading, “If trans can’t share your bathroom, then Blacks can’t share my water fountain.” Spanberger called it “abhorrent,” while Earle-Sears’ team featured the sign in an ad anyway.
In the end, this election could become a referendum on whether Virginia wants to move forward with inclusion or get dragged back into culture war theatrics. For LGBTQ people watching closely, the stakes are personal. If Republicans win on a wave of anti-trans hysteria, it could embolden similar attacks nationwide. If Spanberger prevails, it’ll send a message that compassion, facts, and equality still win in the South.