I don't watch CNN and I don't live in Virginia. I do know a lot of what she claimed she wouldn't stand for during her campaign, was quickly reversed once she got in office. I used AI search tools to confirm my assertion, and this is what returned from my research:
(from AI sources)
Abigail Spanberger's actions after being elected have faced criticism for not aligning with her campaign promises, particularly regarding economic policies and affordability. Critics argue that she has raised taxes and failed to deliver on her affordability agenda, leading to a low approval rating.
Overview of campaign promises:
Abigail Spanberger campaigned on a platform focused on affordability and support for workers. Key promises included:
- Economic Affordability: Commitment to lower costs for Virginia families.
- Support for Labor: Pledged to expand collective bargaining rights for public workers.
- Job Creation: Emphasized the importance of maintaining and creating jobs in Virginia.
After taking office, Spanberger's actions have drawn significant criticism for not aligning with her campaign promises:
- Tax Increases: Critics argue that Spanberger has raised taxes, contradicting her affordability agenda.
- Approval Rating: Her approval rating has plummeted, with claims that she has broken promises made during her campaign.
- Veto of Collective Bargaining Bill: Spanberger vetoed legislation that would have expanded collective bargaining rights for public workers, despite her campaign promises to support such measures. This decision has been labeled a betrayal by labor unions and critics.
Summary of Criticism
| Aspect | Campaign Promise | Action Taken | Criticism |
|---|
| Economic Affordability | Lower costs for families | Raised taxes | Failed to deliver on affordability agenda |
| Support for Labor | Expand collective bargaining rights | Vetoed collective bargaining bill | Seen as breaking a key campaign promise |
| Job Creation | Maintain and create jobs | Criticized for rising unemployment | Accused of squandering economic opportunities |
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Spanberger Faces Mounting ‘Bait and Switch’ Accusations
excerpt:
The core of the criticism centers on what opponents describe as
a fundamental disconnect between how Spanberger presented herself to Virginia voters and the policy direction her administration has taken in its early months. Spanberger — a former CIA officer who represented Virginia’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House from 2019 to 2023 — cultivated a carefully crafted image as a moderate Democrat willing to break with her party’s progressive wing.
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However, several months into her administration, Republican legislators and conservative advocacy groups have seized on
budget proposals and executive actions they characterize as sharply at odds with that campaign persona. Specific points of contention include proposed revenue increases that critics frame as tax hikes on Virginia families, expanded state spending on programs that align more closely with national progressive priorities, and what opponents describe as insufficient focus on the bread-and-butter affordability measures that dominated her campaign rhetoric.
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Spanberger’s “Bait And Switch” Playbook Could Be A Golden Strategy
excerpt
Spanberger’s playbook to win the Virginia governor’s mansion could be the new playbook for left-wing politicians: Campaign as a centrist, but govern as a leftist.
*editor's note
Again, I don't live in Virginia, and I don't watch CNN. However most of what I've read and observed, and discovered through my own research about her Governorship clearly reveals
since she was elected she has personally taken actions that are exactly opposite of how she ran her campaign. I've seen nothing to suggest anything more from her than blatant dishonesty with Virginia voters
who would not have elected her based on the actions she's taken since she was elected.