{"id":2505344,"date":"2025-10-31T16:14:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T20:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/from-tacos-to-tea-spanberger-panders-to-latinos-and-asians\/"},"modified":"2025-10-31T16:18:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T20:18:22","slug":"from-tacos-to-tea-spanberger-panders-to-latinos-and-asians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/from-tacos-to-tea-spanberger-panders-to-latinos-and-asians\/","title":{"rendered":"From tacos to tea, Spanberger panders to Latinos and Asians"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffrom-tacos-to-tea-spanberger-panders-to-latinos-and-asians%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2505344&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Democratic Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger spent an afternoon engaging in targeted outreach to Latino and Asian American voters ahead of the November 4, 2025, election. She held two back-to-back events: one at a Mexican restaurant in alexandria, where she spoke fluent Spanish and interacted warmly with attendees, and another at a Korean tea shop in Fairfax County, where she participated in a customary tea ceremony and watched a cultural drumming performance by Korean schoolchildren. Spanberger&#8217;s campaign emphasized these identity-focused efforts as part of her strategy to connect with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poll-bidens-approval-rating-hits-lowest-point-of-his-presidency-so-far\/\" title=\"Poll: Biden\u2019s Approval Rating Hits Lowest Point Of His Presidency So Far\">key demographic groups<\/a>, despite some criticism that her campaign is overly scripted and lacking strong stances on divisive issues.At the latino event,she was joined by local Latino leaders and featured support from labor icon Dolores Huerta. Spanberger&#8217;s opponent,Republican Winsome Earle-Sears,is also vying to make history as the state&#8217;s first Black woman governor,creating a notable dynamic in the race. Spanberger&#8217;s outreach reflects ongoing Democratic efforts to energize diverse voter bases, even as some party strategists reconsider the emphasis on identity politics following recent electoral setbacks.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">From tacos to tea, Spanberger spends an afternoon pandering to Latinos and Asians<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2369425\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>In the final stretch of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Virginia\">Virginia<\/a>&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ga-republicans-launch-stop-stacey-effort-ahead-of-possible-abrams-2022-announcement\/\" title=\"GA Republicans Launch \u2018Stop Stacey\u2019 Effort Ahead Of Possible Abrams 2022 Announcement\">gubernatorial race<\/a>, Democratic candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Abigail-Spanberger\/\">Abigail Spanberger&nbsp;<\/a>spent an afternoon speeding through outreach to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Latinos\/\">Latino<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/asian-americans\/\">Asian<\/a> voters via a pair of back-to-back&nbsp;events, one at a cramped Mexican restaurant and the other inside a Korean tea shop.<\/p>\n<p>From speaking Spanish to participating in a traditional tea ceremony, Spanberger pulled out all the stops Thursday in hopes of endearing herself to these key demographics. Although polls suggest she is going to win the election on Tuesday, Spanberger&rsquo;s relentlessly scripted campaign and her focus this week on identity-based outreach reflect an approach some Democrats have reconsidered in light of their defeats in 2024.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3870646\/trump-supreme-court-striking-down-tariffs-disarm-international-trade\/\">Trump tells Supreme Court striking down tariffs would &lsquo;disarm&rsquo; him on international trade<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3871165\/ohio-taxpayers-fill-snap-gap\/\">Ohio taxpayers stepping in to fill SNAP gap<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3871145\/evers-signs-wisconsin-school-cell-phone-ban-into-law\/\">Evers signs Wisconsin school cell phone ban into law<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Spanberger&rsquo;s campaign <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mobilize.us\/mobilize\/event\/857993\/\">listed<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mobilize.us\/vea\/event\/857996\/\">both<\/a> venue locations as private, and attendees were told not to carry homemade signs, which were a &ldquo;prohibited&rdquo; item that would be confiscated by security, according to invitation instructions.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3778451\/anti-earle-sears-protester-sign-jim-crow-era\/\"><strong>ANTI-EARLE-SEARS PROTESTER&rsquo;S SIGN SPARKS BACKLASH OVER JIM CROW-ERA LANGUAGE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>At Soricha Tea &amp; Theater, a Korean cafe in Fairfax County, where Asian Americans are <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/research.fairfaxcounty.gov\/c.php?g=1138378&amp;p=8307899\">the largest ethnic minority group<\/a>, Spanberger took part in a tea-pouring and preparation ceremony.<\/p>\n<p>There, she also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/dcexaminer\/status\/1983991667347616075\">watched with enthusiasm<\/a> a ceremonial drum performance showcased by Korean school children dressed in traditional hanbok. In the corner, a stand-alone Spanberger campaign banner was wedged between structures holding the buks, or barrel-shaped Korean drums.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, reacts at the end of a Korean drumming ceremony performed by children during a campaign event at Soricha Tea &amp; Theater on Oct. 30, 2025, in Annandale, Virginia. Spanberger will face off against Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears in the Commonwealth of Virginia&rsquo;s off-year election for governor and other statewide offices on Nov. 4. (Photo by Win McNamee\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At the Alexandria location of Los Tios Grill, a local Tex-Mex chain known for its oversized margaritas, Spanberger flexed her multilingual chops.<\/p>\n<p>Spanberger, a former CIA operations officer, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/dcexaminer\/status\/1984009917834129862\">spoke in fluent Spanish<\/a> for approximately four minutes, much to the surprise of some in attendance.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3868726\/spanberger-to-host-latino-outreach-rally-at-mexican-restaurant\/\"><strong>&lsquo;POLITICAL CHECKBOX:&rsquo; SPANBERGER TO HOST LATINO OUTREACH RALLY AT MEXICAN RESTAURANT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>An expressive Spanberger, at times gesticulating in a Tim Walz-like manner, bantered with Spanish-speaking supporters seated before her, eliciting slight chuckles and approving nods scattered around the eatery.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, jokes with supporters while departing a campaign event at Los Tios Grill on Oct. 30, 2025, in Alexandria, Virginia. Spanberger will face off against Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears in the Commonwealth of Virginia&rsquo;s off-year election for governor and other statewide offices on Nov. 4. (Photo by Win McNamee\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If elected, as Spanberger&rsquo;s surrogates reminded supporters Thursday, she would be the first female governor in Virginia history, though her Republican competitor would be that too, as well as the first black woman to win the commonwealth&rsquo;s governorship.<\/p>\n<p>In the political Left&rsquo;s identity hierarchy, Earle-Sears has Spanberger beat. Facing criticism for being too scripted and for declining to take stands on hot-button issues, Spanberger, whose critics view her as an unremarkable white woman without conviction, surrounded herself just days before the election with more racially diverse allies who <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >nonetheless spouted familiar talking points<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At the Latino-focused event, the front few rows were lined with Latino supporters, and behind them sat a mix of people.<\/p>\n<p>Lauren Lobrano, an Alexandria local, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> that although she is not Latina, what brought her out to the &ldquo;Latinos for Spanberger&rdquo; event was an email from the campaign.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been volunteering for the Spanberger campaign, knocking on doors in my free time,&rdquo; Lobrano said. &ldquo;Got an email and was excited to come out and see her in person and say thank you.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Maria Cardona, who is Latina, said she is a Washington, D.C. resident but knows many Spanberger supporters in Northern Virginia, naming Arlington Public Schools board member Zuraya Tapia-Hadley.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3867671\/spanberger-relies-out-of-state-residents\/\"><strong>SPANBERGER RELIES ON OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS, DC, AND THE ULTRA WEALTHY WHILE OUTRAISING SEARS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;She is a dear friend of mine,&rdquo; Cardona told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;I knew about this [outreach event], and I am close to the people who work with her as well.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Many of those tightly packed into the crowded room, standing around the dozens seated, were campaign staffers, members of the press, and local officials stumping for Spanberger.<\/p>\n<p>Spanberger was flanked by local Latino leaders, including Virginia Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington), who insisted that Spanberger has &ldquo;detailed plans about how to move Virginia&rsquo;s education forward,&rdquo; though she could not articulate a clear stance on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/spanberger-record-tagged-as-democratic-socialist\/\" title=\"Spanberger record tagged as \u2018Democratic Socialist\u2019\">school transgender policies<\/a> during her one-and-only televised debate against GOP Lt. Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/winsome-earle-sears\/\">Winsome Earle-Sears<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Alexandria City Councilor Canek Aguirre, the son of Mexican immigrants, spoke about mass deportations under the Trump administration. Drawing audible boos from the audience, Aguirre accused <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ice\/\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a> of &ldquo;snatching&rdquo; innocents off the street and &ldquo;terrorizing communities.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Piling on, Spanberger painted frightening imagery of ICE operations, saying that although she is &ldquo;a law-and-order Democrat,&rdquo; it is &ldquo;not law and order to have your citizens, your community members, live in fear.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Rounding up of people, making children live in fear, ensuring that elderly grandparents aren&rsquo;t going to church because they are afraid, and then kids are staying home from school because they are afraid their parents may not be home when they get there, that should offend everyone,&rdquo; Spanberger said, to resounding applause.<\/p>\n<p>Spanberger&rsquo;s time-pressed star guest, Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Ruben-Gallego\">Ruben Gallego<\/a> (D-AZ), however, jetted off to the U.S. Capitol before he could share his origin story as a Latino child of immigrants making it in America.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He did not do a very good job of telling his story, so I&rsquo;m going to tell it,&rdquo; Spanberger said of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3868154\/ruben-gallego-latino-voters-spanberger-virginia-governor\/\">her headlining speaker<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (2nd L), listens as Sen. Ruben Gallego (L) (D-AZ) speaks during a campaign event at Los Tios Grill on Oct. 30, 2025, in Alexandria, Virginia. Spanberger will face off against Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears in the Commonwealth of Virginia&rsquo;s off-year election for governor and other statewide offices on Nov. 4. (Photo by Win McNamee\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That she did, recounting in great detail how Gallego got into Harvard after cold-calling Hispanic students off the university directory to seek out application advice. While enrolled, Gallego worked as a custodian, Spanberger continued, and learned to navigate the Ivy League&rsquo;s elitist landscape as a low-income college kid.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When kids who might dream big about what&rsquo;s possible as they work a job or two in between helping translate for their parents or trying to get used to life in this new place, people can look to Ruben, saying, &lsquo;He did it. I can do it too.&rsquo; And that&rsquo;s what this country is about. I am grateful for his support, his service, in all its forms, particularly at this moment,&rdquo; Spanberger said.<\/p>\n<p>At the end of the event, Spanberger trotted out 95-year-old organizing powerhouse Dolores Huerta, a famous labor figure who co-founded what would become the United Farm Workers alongside celebrated Latino folk hero Cesar Chavez.<\/p>\n<p>Huerta, now a nonagenarian, yet still energized as ever, was flown in on a red eye from California and wore a T-shirt spelling out &ldquo;Protest, Organize, Walkout, Everyone, Rise Up,&rdquo; acronymed &ldquo;P.O.W.E.R.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Standing next to Spanberger, a microphoned Huerta led the crowd in chanting the UFW&rsquo;s storied slogan, which she created, &ldquo;S&iacute;, se puede!&rdquo; In 2008, President Barack Obama adopted an English translation of it as a campaign motto, &ldquo;Yes, we can,&rdquo; and enjoyed much success from the borrowed mantra.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An audience member listens as Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, speaks during a campaign event at Los Tios Grill on Oct. 30, 2025, in Alexandria, Virginia. Spanberger will face off against Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears in the Commonwealth of Virginia&rsquo;s off-year election for governor and other statewide offices on Nov. 4. (Photo by Win McNamee\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spanberger campaigns with Latinos and Asians in Virginia<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3767,"featured_media":2505345,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2244210266.jpg?w=594","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[66268,66270,63590,66269,32249],"class_list":["post-2505344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-asian-community","tag-cultural-outreach","tag-latino-community","tag-political-pandering","tag-spanberger"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2244210266.jpg?w=594","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2505344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2505344"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2505344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2505348,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2505344\/revisions\/2505348"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2505345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2505344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2505344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2505344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}