Spanberger’s actions mimic ‘a progressive Democrat’: Byron York
Byron York of the Washington Examiner argues that Abigail Spanberger’s approach as Virginia’s governor would resemble that of a progressive Democrat, even though she ran as a centrist in the Virginia gubernatorial race. He notes her 15-point victory amid a Democratic Party split between progressives and moderates,suggesting her actions reflect the ongoing intra-party clash.
York highlights several policy moves he views as aligning with a progressive agenda: rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, signing an executive order ending cooperation with ICE, and proposing tax increases (including on fantasy sports contests) to fund state healthcare and childcare. He also points to Spanberger’s move to push constitutional amendments on redistricting, same-sex marriage, and abortion, with a new redistricting map described as temporary and responsive.
The piece emphasizes that, while some of Spanberger’s plans may be debated or impractical, the governor can use executive orders to implement actions, limiting legislative pushback. York frames Spanberger’s actions as indicative of the broader shift within the Democratic Party toward progressive priorities, making her governance a potential test of moderates vs. progressives.
Spanberger’s actions mimic ‘a progressive Democrat’: Byron York
Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York compared Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
York said Spanberger campaigned in the Virginia gubernatorial race on a centrist platform, being “portrayed in the media every day as a moderate.” Her 15% margin of victory in November comes as “progressives and moderates” within the Democratic Party battle for control, with lawmakers like Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) representing the former group.
“So now, she [Spanberger] becomes the governor of Virginia, and what does she do? First of all, she rejoins something called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which is a climate group that the former Republican governor had taken Virginia out of,” York said on Fox News Live. “That’s exactly the sort of thing that, say, AOC would do if she’d become governor.”
York also said Spanberger’s decision to sign an executive order terminating any cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is in line with what Ocasio-Cortez would do. Spanberger’s attempt to “raise more taxes” through various means, including on fantasy sports contests, is the “sort of thing” a progressive Democratic leader would do, York explained.
York noted that these possible tax increases come after Spanberger has made “big promises” on state-supported healthcare and childcare, and needs to find funding “somewhere.”
He concluded that while it’s possible some of Spanberger’s plans for the state “won’t work,” the governor can still issue executive orders to carry out actions, meaning there’s “not a whole lot you can do about it.”
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Spanberger signed a bill on Friday that sends several constitutional amendments on redistricting, same-sex marriage, redistricting, and abortion to Virginia voters. The governor said the new redistricting map, which heavily favors Democrats, is “temporary and responsive.”
The amendments are all expected to pass in November.
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