The Virginia Stratagem |
The Virginia Stratagem
Virginia should be held up as an example of any Democratic candidates calling themselves moderates.
Blaine Pardoe | March 24, 2026
Last year, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a native of New Jersey, ran for the governorship of Virginia. Her platform was that she was a moderate, playing well with Northern Virginia voters, a hotbed of liberalism in the state. She stated that she had law enforcement experience and was a former CIA Case Officer and congresswoman. During her campaign, she claimed that she was not in favor of gerrymandering. She claimed she wanted “common sense” gun control.
Northern Virginia had dealt with the federal downsizing and the election was more of a referendum on their hatred of Donald Trump rather than what was good for the state. Spanberger played into that perfectly.
One of her running mates, Jay Jones, had gone so far as to say he wanted to shoot his opponents and their children and, “piss on their graves.” Spanberger refused to call for him to step down in the campaign. In retrospect, that was a clue, an early warning as to how radical she was. Still, she put on a positive spin, smiles and handshakes, claiming she was a moderate, who argued that she would run to bring about affordability.
It was all a façade -- a lie.
Spanberger was a manufactured candidate, a package which was sold to voters by the Democratic Party. Her “law enforcement” experience was as a postal inspector. As Democrats secured control of the General Assembly and Senate, they, along with the new governor, began one of the most dramatic and sweeping changes to ever hit a state.
Her very public views of being against gerrymandering were cast aside. In violation of the state’s constitution, the Democrats pushed for a change to the district. Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Charlottesville would control the new districts. Where before, Democrats held five seats, and the Republicans four; the new maps left Republicans with a shot at one representative.
All this was positioned as a response to what Texas and other states were doing. Barack Obama was trotted out to say it was the right move. Most Virginians, however, felt that the issues in other states needed to be dealt with there… that punishing half of the citizens of Virginia was not the right answer. The Democrats went so far as to say on the bill, it was “to restore fairness.” To Republicans in the state, it was akin to a declaration of war. They would be governed by people who didn’t share their values or even know where they lived.
Spanberger wasn’t done. Despite claiming she was in favor of affordability, she implemented a raise of the income taxes, a new digital and service tax (so your online purchases would cost more), a transportation delivery tax, taxes on storage units, dog walking (no, I’m not kidding), ammunition, guns, and landscaping equipment. Virginia, which had a massive budget surplus, should have been in a position to do away with the property tax on automobiles, something she ran in favor of. Instead, it levied more new taxes than had ever been done in the Commonwealth before.
Virginia Democrats and Spanberger weren’t done there. Sixteen new gun laws were drafted, approved, and are awaiting her signature. Some weapons are banned. Those that aren’t banned, are going to be illegal to transport. One of the gun laws allowed Democratic lawmakers to be exempt from the new laws, because they had the need to defend themselves. While this was changed in the final bill, it was a classic example of “laws for thee, not me.” There was a revolt over these bills, one not covered in the mainstream media. Over 120 Virginia municipalities have declared themselves as Second Amendment Sanctuaries, refusing to enforce her dictatorial grab at guns in the state. They stand as patriots, refusing to play games with the Second Amendment.
The Democrats are gleeful in the angst they have inflicted. Spanberger was even chosen to give the rebuttal to the State of the Union Address. Rumors have her preparing for a run for the Presidency. She’s the latest darling of the progressives.
This could all very well backfire on the Democrats running across the country. Virginia should be held up as an example of any Democratic candidates calling themselves moderates. Spanberger should be made the poster child for left-wing deceit and lying. Her greedy grab and abuse of power should serve as a national example of what happens when voters trust Democrats running for office. The taint of her indulgences at the expense of everyday Virginians should be held up and exposed for what they are.
Blaine Pardoe is a New York Times Bestselling and award-winning author canceled by one of his publishers in 2022. His conservative political thriller series, Blue Dawn, is the story of the violent overthrow of the government by radical progressives. His most recent series, Tenure, is about a Punisher-like hero that goes after the woke. He also authors the bestselling military science fiction series, Land&Sea.
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