From right-to-work to who gets the jobs, here’s where Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates stand on its economy

Starting today, voters in one of the top states to do business get to cast early ballots for who gets to lead its next four years — and the economic agenda that defines them.

Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger, a former Congressional representative and CIA case officer, and Republican hopeful Winsome Earle-Sears, Virginia’s lieutenant governor, have spent the past few months debating proposed policies and legislation in one of the country’s most closely watched gubernatorial races.  

This election takes place as the nearby federal government and major private players make investments and establish contracts in defense, data centers and other locally prominent, tech-dependent industries whose effects could ricochet throughout the state. The state has also not had a woman governor, nor have bordering states Maryland and West Virginia.

Technical.ly reached out to both candidates with the same set of questions about entrepreneurship, technology and the economy. Neither responded by the time of publication. 

As the Commonwealth approaches the Nov. 4 general election, here’s where the candidates stand on regional technology and business-related issues, as demonstrated in their prior comments. 

Data centers

Virginia, particularly the Data Center Alley region in Northern Virginia’s Loudoun County and Ashburn, is known as the data center capital of the world. With that title comes concerns and critiques about energy use and environmental impacts. 

Consumer energy prices have also risen during this industry boom, which Democrat Spanberger aims to address. 

She’s proposed to boost local energy generation through offshore wind, solar and nuclear projects. Plus, Spanberger plans to “encourage” clean on- and off-site generation and storage at data centers to avoid increasing costs across the state, according to a proposed plan. 

In an interview with Cardinal News, Republican Earle-Sears noted she has an “all of the above” energy strategy and wouldn’t reject any options, though she expressed distaste for wind and solar and previously cited “clean coal” as an option. That concept has been dispelled by energy experts, as coal is still responsible for pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.  

Spanberger also stated she’s open to extending tax breaks for data centers, but more evaluations need to be in place on how the infrastructure benefits, or doesn’t benefit, different regions. 

Workforce development 

Earle-Sears noted, during a summit in Richmond at the end of last year, that she would invest in workforce development, but did not cite specifics. 

In her “Growing Virginia” plan, Spanberger outlines plans to create pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs for middle and high school students in the trades and other pathways. She also intends to expand paid internship opportunities in the state, per the plan. 

The document also notes plans to work with schools, businesses and research institutions to prepare students to learn AI and other emerging technologies. 

Spanberger additionally outlined goals to establish a statewide paid family and medical leave program, guarantee paid sick leave, and raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. 

After DOGE cuts rattled the state, she noted plans to help fired federal workers get connected to new jobs and “fight for legal protections.” Meanwhile, Earle-Sears downplayed the mass layoffs in a leaked recording, the Virginia Mercury reported. 

“How many here have ever lost a job? …  Oh, you mean it’s not unusual? It happens to everybody all the time?” she said at a gathering in March. “The media is making it out to be this huge, huge thing. And I don’t understand why.”

‘Right-to-work’ 

The state law, which allows employees the option to choose whether or not they want to join a union — known as “right-to-work” — has become a flash point in the gubernatorial race.

States with this law have been found to diminish wages and benefits for workers, an Economic Policy Institute analysis found. Twenty-seven states have passed such laws. 

Earle-Sears has been a staunch supporter of maintaining ‘right-to-work’ in the Commonwealth. She claimed it “attracts job creators” and helps “companies thrive,” though the analysis found the law is not linked to job growth and perpetuates economic inequality. 

Meanwhile, Spanberger has said she will not completely change what’s enacted, but has not elaborated on specific plans. 

“As Virginia’s next Governor, I will work to create stability in our economy and provide certainty to workers and businesses,” Spanberger told the Cardinal News in its voter guide. “Accordingly, I will not support a full repeal of Virginia’s right-to-work law.”