OPINION

When a Candidate Can’t Handle the Campaign Heat

Joe Thomas • October 23, 2025

Abigail Spanberger wants to be the next governor of Virginia but bristles at being asked about the Democrat team that she is campaigning with.

She complained on Katie Couric’s online show, “The fact that I have to spend even a moment’s time talking about somebody else’s text message from years ago rather than what I want to do as governor is something that I am deeply unhappy about.”

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She was referring to Democrat attorney general candidate Jay Jones, whose recently leaked 2022 text messages show him fantasizing about shooting a Republican politician and his children being killed.

Good governors know that they have to be ready to drop the agenda and discuss critical current events, for example, when a hurricane hits, or, as former Republican Gov. Jim Gilmore found out, a horrific terrorist attack occurs in your state.

Or when someone running alongside you for the state’s top law enforcer fantasizes about committing political violence. You can’t go on a news show and complain that it distracted from your agenda—that’s the job.

A campaign agenda is a handy tool to help voters get an idea of the kinds of things you will try to do during your term. Spanberger’s agenda includes her “Growing Virginia Plan” that will, according to her campaign, expand workforce development (government subsidies), increase business investment (government subsidies), and enhance trade opportunities (government subsidies).

But a campaign agenda doesn’t address how well you will handle the big issues that can often take a governor by surprise. Part of the job of being a governor is being able to handle the unexpected, because when you’re governor, there’s a lot of it.

Campaigns aren’t just about your agenda. They can also be about finding out who displays the temperament to be “gubernatorial.” When a critical situation arises that needs addressing, do you handle it, or do you complain that it distracts from your agenda and pretty much avoid doing anything of substance about it?

If you watched the recent gubernatorial debate, you already know the answer.

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