CSPAN - Campaign 2026 Virginia Governor Debate

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Oct. 9, 2025 23:29-00:26 - CSPAN

56:55

Campaign 2026 Virginia Governor Debate

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abigail spanberger

d 17:56

winsome earle-sears

r 17:33

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unidentified		Find a full schedule on your program guide or watch online anytime at cspan.org slash history.
		Virginia's first and only scheduled 2025 gubernatorial debate featured former Democratic Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsom Earl Sears.
		They sparred over the government shutdown, transgender women in schools, abortion limits, and marijuana policy.
		Good evening and welcome to tonight's debate.
		I'm Deanna Albritton, anchor for WRIC in Richmond.
		And I'm Tom Shadd, anchor at Wavy TV and Fox 43 here in Norfolk, Virginia.
		We have a live audience watching along with you tonight.
		You're able to watch the debate in every television market in every county in Virginia, from Roanoke to Norfolk and from Northern Virginia to Richmond.
		But before we get to the questions, let's go over the rules.
		You will each have 60 seconds to answer a question.
		Rebuttals and follow-ups get 30 seconds.
		Candidates, when time is up, you'll hear this bell.
		Each candidate will also have 30 seconds for a closing statement.
		And with that, thanks for joining us, candidates.
		Ms. Earl Sears, you're first.
		Tom.
		Thank you, Deanna.
		We want to begin tonight with a topic that may be the only thing that unites all residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the dreaded car tax.
		Ms. Earl Sears, you have said that you will axe the car tax in your first year in office, but you will have to replace the revenue for local governments.
		So how will you come up with just over $3 billion every year?
		You'll have 60 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		Yes, thank you for having me, and it's a wonderful time to be here this momentous occasion.
		This is my former place that I actually represented, Norfolk State University.
		So on the car tax, you know, we could have gotten rid of that this year because Governor Yunken put it in his budget that we could get rid of it, but unfortunately, the Democrats decided against that.
		And so my opponent, she says she's going to get rid of it too.
		But she's going to have to ask her side of the aisle how to do that.
		So we had the money.
		We can do it.
		But really what I want to ask this first question is, Abigail, when are you going to take Jay Jones and say to him, you must leave the race?
		He has said that he wants to murder his political opponent.
		And not only that, but his political opponent's children, too.
		Ms. Earl Sears.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears, we're going to get to that question in a moment, but first we're talking about the car tax.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		You can't answer the question.
unidentified		We're talking about the car tax rate.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		That was still my time.
unidentified		Yes, but I want to get an answer from you.
		How would you come up with just over $3 billion a year for the car tax?
		I'll give you 15 seconds to clarify.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		Yes.
		So as I said, we have the money.
		We have run budget surpluses every year that we've been in office.
		Over $10 billion, $9 billion of which we've given back to the Virginia taxpayer.
		That's serious money, and the taxpayers want that.
		And when I am governor, I'm going to have a form that says, check here if you want to pay more in taxes.
		But my opponent needs to answer about Jay Jones.
unidentified		Your time's up, Ms. Earl Sears.
		Ms. Van Berger, you've said that you'd like to get rid of the car tax.
		Will you make a commitment here tonight that you will make that a priority?
		And where do you intend to find the money for local governments every year if that tax is eliminated?
		You have 60 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		The car tax is the most hated tax in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
		And in fact, that has been the case for many, many years.
		My husband Adam, who is here this evening, actually wrote a paper in high school about the hated car tax.
		And year after year, many people make promises about getting rid of the car tax, but without a plan to do it.
		Unfortunately, my opponent went in the legislature had the opportunity to lower the car tax by 10% and voted against it.
		Now, in the four years that she has been the lieutenant governor, she hasn't made the effort or endeavored to get rid of this tax.
		And in fact, I will ask anyone to Democrats, Republicans, local and state officials to finally get rid of this most dreaded tax.
		In fact, it requires significant planning and cooperation.
		But I have a history of getting rid of hated taxes during my time in Congress.
		I repealed with bipartisan support an unfair tax on firefighters, police, and public servants.
		I have gotten rid of a hated tax in the past by building a coalition, and I will do it again.
unidentified		So, Ms. Spanberger, how would you come up with just over $3 billion to fund that car tax for local governments?
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		It requires bringing people together, Democrats and Republicans, to put any and all possible paths forward on the table.
		You are correct that we need to ensure that the loss of the car tax doesn't mean loss of funding to our public schools and to our farmers.
		Ms. Earl Sears better clarified.
		And so, in working together, we will work to not only repeal this tax, which of course also requires a constitutional amendment, but ensure our community is a very important part of the world.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		It doesn't require a constitutional state.
unidentified		We're just going to move on to the next decision.
		Deanna?
		Thanks, Tom.
		Our next question is about the temperature and tone of political speech.
		The first example has been shaping the race for governor and attorney general for the past week.
		You both will have a chance for rebuttal.
		Democratic Attorney General nominee Jay Jones admits he sent text messages to a colleague referencing former Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert.
		Here's what he wrote: Jones, three people, two bullets.
		Gilbert, Hitler, Paul Pott.
		Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.
		Spoiler, put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know, and he receives both bullets every time.
		Colleague, Jay, please stop.
		Jones.
		L-O-L-O-K-O-K.
		I mean, do I think Todd and Jennifer are evil and that they're breeding little fascists?
		Yes.
		Colleague, you were talking about hoping Jennifer Gilbert's children would die.
		Jones.
		Yes, I've told you this before.
		Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.
		Jay Jones has apologized and says he takes full responsibility for those messages.
		Ms. Spanberger, you have called the comments disgusting and said you condemn violence.
		The question for you tonight is, were you aware of these messages before they were released publicly?
		And will you continue to endorse Jay Jones as the next Attorney General of Virginia?
		You have 60 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		The comments that Jay Jones made are absolutely abhorrent.
		I denounce them when I learned of them and I will denounce them every opportunity I get.
		As a mother, as a public servant, as a candidate for governor, I denounce them.
		And it is important that candidates always denounce violence on no matter which side of the aisle, violence, violent rhetoric.
		We should always be focused and forceful in our denouncement.
		My opponent, unfortunately, only denounces violence when her side is the target.
		I hope that into the future, she will endeavor to denounce violent rhetoric and violence no matter who the victim.
		And tonight, Lieutenant Governor Earl Sears, you routinely refer to me as Earl Sears, please.
		You routinely refer to me as your enemy.
		I'm not your enemy.
		You are not my enemy.
		We are political opponents, and tonight voters are here to listen to the policy that differences.
		So, as we move forward, we must continue to set a good example for all of our children.
unidentified		Thank you, Ms. Spamberger.
		I didn't hear an answer there on the endorsement issue, so I want to just make sure.
		Will you continue to endorse Jay Jones to be the next Attorney General of Virginia?
		And were you aware of these text messages before they released?
		You have 30 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		In fact, it appears that it was those who released the text messages and held them for years, so the public was unaware who had knowledge of these text messages for many of us.
		You do a message.
		I guarantee these text messages the day that they came out, and I denounced them as soon as I learned of them.
unidentified		She denounces Murrays.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		More importantly, at this point, as we move forward, the voters now have this information, information that was withheld for them.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		You're running presumably for political reasons, but the voters now have the information, and it is up to voters to make an individual choice based on this information.
unidentified		Ms. Bamberger, I understand what you're saying about the voters, but for you yourself, do you still continue to endorse Jay Jones?
unidentified		15 seconds, yes or no?
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		We are all running our individual races.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		I believe my opponent has said that about her lieutenant governor nominee.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		And it is authorized every person to make their own decision.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		I am running my race to serve Virginia, and that is what I intend to do.
unidentified		Thank you, Ms. Spamberger.
unidentified		We just want to clarify, you know, what you're saying is that as of now, you still endorse Jay Jones as Attorney General.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		I'm saying as of now, it's up to every voter to make their own individual decision.
		I am running for governor.
		I am accountable for the words that I say for the acts that I take, for the policies that I have put out.
unidentified		Thank you.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		I am responsible for the policies I put out and the work I will endeavor to do tirelessly for the people of Governor Virginia.
unidentified		Thank you, Ms. Spamberger.
		Ms. Earl Sears, before we get to rebuttals, because we will get to rebuttals, we have a question for you.
		While there is no equivalency, this next example does speak to the divided nature of our country.
		During the Charlie Kirk Memorial, President Trump said, quote, I hate my opponent and I don't want the best for them.
		Is there a place for that kind of political speech?
		You have 60 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		Well, I think as everybody knows, I'm a Christian.
		I'm a Christian before I'm a Republican, and I'm required to forgive people.
		And it's hard sometimes when somebody has abused you, et cetera, but it's something you must do because not to forgive is almost like, as someone said, you drink poison thinking that it's going to affect the other person.
		And I want to live a decent life, and I don't want to not have peace in my life.
		And so I, as I've said before, I would not say that.
		So that's why I'm wondering why my opponent won't say beyond its abhorrent and disgusting, why she won't say it is not okay and that he must leave the race because Jay Jones advocated the murder, Abigail, the murder of a man, a former Speaker, as well as his children who were two years, two and five years old.
		You have little girls.
		Would it take him pulling the trigger?
		Is that what would do it?
		And then you would say he needs to get out of the race, Abigail.
		You have nothing to say?
		Abigail, what if he said it about your two children, your three children?
		Is that when you would say he should get out of the race, Abigail?
unidentified		You're running to be governor, Ms. Earl Sears.
		I know you're saying that you would not personally say this, but do you think still that there is that place for that kind of rhetoric?
		The example that we gave, even coming from others, you have 30 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So I'm responsible for my behavior, and what I've said, I've just said, I wouldn't say that.
		I would not speak that way.
		Look, I'm from a third world country.
		I was born in Jamaica.
		And when I was 10 years old, I saw that kind of political violence, which is why I'm asking my opponent to please ask him to get out of the race, have some political courage.
		What you have done is you are taking political calculations about your future as governor.
		Well, as governor, you have to make hard choices, and that means telling Jay Jones to leave the race.
		I have seen what it means when people are shot in the streets and thrown in the back of cars just for political purposes.
		I don't want to see that in America.
		America must never be that place.
		And Abigail needs to say something.
unidentified		Marce Earl Sears, you're out of time there.
		We do have one more follow-up question for you before we get to rebuttals.
		One more question for you.
		This is on the topic of endorsements.
		President Trump has endorsed the Republican incumbent Attorney General.
		Do you need Trump's endorsement to win the race in Virginia?
		You have 30 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So I will take all endorsements, including the president.
		And I am working very hard for the people of Virginia.
		I believe in lower taxes.
		The people want that, my opponent.
		Unfortunately, she's already said she's going to raise taxes.
		She's going to raise energy rates.
		Well, she's already voted that way because, well, that's all she wants: solar and wind.
		Well, if you look outside, the sun isn't shining and the breeze isn't blowing.
		And then what, Abigail?
		What will you do?
		What will you do?
		You're smirking.
		And you know that the people of the Southwest have a lot of energy issues.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears, we need to get to rebuttals.
unidentified		So, Ms. Spanberger, you have 30 seconds to respond.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		I think in her response to the question that you asked, my opponent proved my point, which is when violent rhetoric comes from her side of the aisle, she refuses to denounce it.
		The statement that you read from President Donald Trump was violent rhetoric that she refuses to denounce.
		And this is why I say Ms. Earl Sears has her 30 seconds.
		And I wish I would stop using language like that.
		But I am also glad that she is speaking about issues of affordability because as we are talking about issues of affordability, I am the only candidate on stage who's put forth a plan to actually lower costs for Virginians.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears, now your turn for a rebuttal.
unidentified		You have 30 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So what Abigail has just said is a lie, that she's the only one who has affordability.
		Please go to spambergerlies.com and check that out.
		I don't understand why you just can't come forward and say he needs to go.
		I mean, we're talking about murder.
		We're talking about someone's life being taken from them.
		Have you nothing to say about that?
		Are you not going to address it?
		Really, you can't go any further.
		You're a governor.
		You're supposed to stand up for all the people.
		Are you saying political murder is all right?
unidentified		Ms. Spamberger, I want to give you a chance to have responsibility.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		Yes.
		Once again, I have denounced political violence, political rhetoric, no matter who is leading the charge.
		When given the opportunity, Lieutenant Governor Earl Sears, you have not done the same.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		No matter who is leading the charge of the men.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		And so when it is important, it is important that all of us set a better example.
unidentified		For us, not here, no matter what.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		It took you a while.
unidentified		Ms. President, Mr. El Samba, but it's difficult for us to be able to do it.
unidentified		She has no courage.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		You cannot be governor.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		No courage.
unidentified		The audience can't hear when you're talking over each other, so we just want to make sure that we're not so people can hear.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		She has no courage.
unidentified		We're going to the next topic.
		Yes, we are moving on to the next topic with Tom on federal workers.
		Thank you, Deanna.
		It's been more than a week since federal lawmakers allowed the government to shut down with more than 150,000 government workers.
		Virginia is facing the brunt of the impact.
		So Ms. Earl Sears, knowing its impact on Virginia, if you were governor now, would you ask the president to use his power to work with Democrats to reopen the government?
		You have 60 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So my opponent, all summer long, has been playing political football with federal workers by trying to say that she loves them more than anyone else.
		Well, let me tell you what love looks like.
		It looks like Abigail calling Senators Kane and Warner and telling them, go back, do your job, and vote against a government shutdown.
		We only need eight, eight Democratic senators.
		That's all we need.
		And we cannot find eight.
		And yet, and yet we can find two in Virginia.
		When are you going to publicly say to Senators Kane and Warner, go and do your job and keep federal workers working?
		That's the way you stop the shutdown because right now they're having to work and especially our military without any pay.
		I'm a United States Marine veteran and it is definitely hard, especially in the enlisted ranks, to work without pay.
		You can do something about that.
		You're the one who's been talking about all that love.
		Well, show love to keep them in their jobs.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears, the question, though, that I'm looking for, the answer to is, would you ask the president, if you were governor, to use his power to work with Democrats to reopen the government?
unidentified		15 seconds to clarify.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So the president has already said that he would do that.
		But you know, before anything gets to the president, it's in the Senate right now.
		The House Republicans have voted and it's in the Senate.
		And all we need for it to get to the president so the shutdown stops is eight Senate Democrats.
		That's just it.
		Eight Senate Democrats.
		And we cannot find any because they're playing political football as you have been, Abigail, all this time.
		Love is a verb.
		It's a show me.
		It's a doing.
		Love is not a shutdown.
		When are you going to ask Senators Kane and Warner to please keep federal workers working?
unidentified		All right, we're going to go to Ms. Spanberger next on this one.
		Knowing the shutdown's impact on Virginia, if you were governor now, would you urge the two Democratic senators to vote to reopen the government until a deal can be worked out with Republicans?
		You have 60 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		Well, importantly, when I was in Congress, when I entered Congress, I entered during the longest government shutdown in history.
		And two weeks into my time in Congress, I went to the White House.
		I sat down in the situation room with a group of Democrats and Republicans and President Trump, urging him to come to the table, urging him to make a deal.
		That is how we started the path towards ending the government shutdown with leadership from the president.
		The current lieutenant governor has stood up for Virginia workers.
		Because right now, at this moment, when Virginia's federal workforce and contractors and communities across the Commonwealth are suffering because of this government shutdown, it is only increasing the challenge that they are facing after months and months of the attacks from this White House under Doge.
		Entirety of that time, my opponent has made light of federal workers losing their jobs, saying I'd like to remote the big deal.
unidentified		So, just to clarify.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		Everyone loses their jobs.
unidentified		Ms. Spanberger, time is up, but just to clarify, then you would not urge the two Democratic senators to work with Republicans to reopen the government.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		To clarify, I would encourage everyone, our Democratic senators, our Democratic House members, our Republican House members, to work together and drive efforts to come back to the table.
		Everyone from Virginia, the most impacted state in a time of shutdown, as our communities are suffering after months of doge and attacks on our federal workforce.
		Everyone in Virginia should be coming together and urging the president.
unidentified		We are going to move on to the next topic, which is data centers and my colleagues.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		Am I not going to get a rebuttal?
		She's attacked me.
		Am I not going to get a rebuttal?
unidentified		I'll give you 15 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		Thank you very much.
		So you've heard a lot of words from my opponent, and she's talked about Doge.
		And, you know, I'm the one who started a men's prison ministry.
		Of course, I care about people.
		It was one of the best things I did.
		We've created over 265,000 jobs.
		I know what it's like to lose a job.
		How could I make light of it?
		But my opponent has cut and spliced my words so that it would look like I did not get it.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears, time is up.
		Next topic, data centers with my colleague Deanna.
		Thanks, Tom.
		So data centers are expanding across Virginia, increasing power demand and expected to raise energy bills even more for all Virginians.
		Ms. Spamberger, what is your plan to make sure data centers have the power they need and Virginians don't get stuck with the bill?
		You have 60 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		Absolutely.
		So data centers are coming to Virginia, and many localities want to welcome them.
		And it's important that they pay their fair share.
		And as governor, I will ensure that data centers pay their fair share.
		But we have a challenge looking towards the future as it relates to our energy generation here in the Commonwealth.
		We are the largest net importer of energy in the country.
		And that requires real leadership in contending with what is an impending energy crisis.
		And unfortunately, as we see an impending energy crisis, my opponent has supported efforts from the Trump administration to take millions and millions of dollars of energy investments away from Virginia.
		This is all the while that energy costs continue to rise for Virginians.
		That is why in my affordability plan, I laid out plans to reduce the cost of energy here in the Commonwealth.
unidentified		Ms. Spamberger, as a follow-up, you stated the data centers must pay their fair share.
		So what does that look like exactly to you?
		Are you committing that to Virginians not seeing more price hikes?
		You have 30 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		Absolutely.
		So importantly, there is currently an SEC case moving forward.
		And so pending the results of that case as it moves forward, it may require action within the General Assembly to ensure that large utility users like data centers are paying their fair share for the energy that they consume.
		For anyone who wants to view the further plans that I have to reduce energy, it is at affordablevirginia.com.
unidentified		Thank you, Ms. Spamberger.
		Ms. Earl Sears, what is your idea for offsetting the high costs of data centers, energy demands, and preventing additional rate hikes for Virginians?
		You have 60 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So the Virginia Clean Economy Act, when it was passed, every single Democrat voted for that.
		Every single one.
		And by the way, my opponent, Abigail Spanberger, has supported it.
		Well, let me tell you what it did.
		Speaking of no energy, it took 11,000 megawatts of power immediately off the grid, Abigail, without anything to substitute for it.
		And all you want, again, is wind and solar.
		Well, you know, it's that little thing called the, well, the technology revolution that's still happening.
		And it's that little thing called the, well, industrial revolution that's still happening.
		Businesses need power.
		What are you going to do about that?
		Well, let me tell you what we are doing.
		We have started in the southwest a micro-reactor program to see how we can bring energy to the southwest and make it a regional energy hub, as a matter of fact.
unidentified		Mr. Else, you're out of time, but I do want to follow up there.
		So the question was, what is your plan for offsetting those high costs of data centers' energy demands?
		What is your plan for making sure Virginians don't get stuck with the bills?
		So 30 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So what we need is an all-of-the-above approach to energy.
		We need clean coal, we need oil, we need nuclear, we need natural gas, and we need, yes, renewables.
		My opponent's only plan is solar and wind.
		Well, what happens when the sun goes down?
unidentified		There is nothing.
		Mr. Elsa, we do need to move on to the next question.
		All right.
		Thank you, Deanna.
		We have a question tonight from a Norfolk State University student.
		Let's listen.
		Young people are leaving Virginia for more affordable housing and better job opportunities.
		What initiatives or policies would you implement to make Virginia a more attractive place for young professionals to live, work, and build their future?
		Ms. Earl Sears, we'll start with you.
		How do you respond to the students' economic concerns?
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		Yes, so what we have done in Virginia and what we're continuing to do is we're bringing jobs here because we want our children who are born here, raised here, we want them to stay here and we want them to do very well because we want them to create generational wealth and a good education will do that.
		But when the education happens, they also need the jobs.
		And I don't know if you've been seeing, but we have created over 15,000 new business startups, never existed until we came into office, new business, high-paying startups.
		And then we have created, as I've said before, over 265,000 jobs.
		And we have another 225,000 job openings right now.
		And, you know, I was just with the governor, Governor Yunken, out in Charlottesville, where Afton Scientific announced 200 more jobs.
unidentified		Thank you very much.
		And Ms. Spanberger, what economic policies or initiatives would you implement to make Virginia an attractive place for young professionals to live, work, and build their futures?
		You have 60 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		Importantly, I want to thank the students of Norfolk State for welcoming us to this campus, to the faculty and the administration.
		Thank you for hosting this incredible event here.
		And the young woman raised an incredibly important point, which is we attract people to our universities from across the country.
		And we should want, and I do, and as governor, I will want to ensure that when they graduate, they will stay in Virginia to start a business, to start a family, and to start their career.
		The challenges, though, that she mentioned are housing costs and affordability issues.
		In fact, during the time that the lieutenant governor has been in office, the cost of buying a house has gone up 18 percent.
		The cost of renting a house has gone up 14 percent with just an 11 percent increase even just this last year, the third highest in the whole country.
		And my opponent so frequently talks about job creation.
		Virginia has had seven months this year of rising unemployment.
		The challenges are real, and Virginians need someone who's not employment numbers are.
unidentified		Okay, we had a very spiritual rebuttal on that.
		Excuse me, Ms. Sears.
		We've had a very spirited debate thus far, and now we're going to shift gears.
		And my colleague Deanna will take it from here.
		Yes, we want to see where maybe there's some shared common ground.
		Ms. Spanberger, what quality or qualities of your opponent do you admire?
		You have 30 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		I admire her faith that she puts into action through her time at the prison ministry that she frequently talks about, and I admire her service to our country, particularly as someone who chose to be an American and chose to serve.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		I think those are admirable traits and, frankly, what makes our country and our Commonwealth a special place that people the world over come to our country to become Americans, to serve in the military and in elected office.
unidentified		Thank you, Ms. Spanberger.
		Thank you.
		A handshake.
		Well, Ms. Earl Sears, with that, what quality or qualities of your opponent do you admire?
		You have 30 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		Yes, from what I've seen, I believe that she is a devoted mom.
		I truly believe that.
		And that she is a daughter who loves her parents very much.
		And I do believe that she cares.
unidentified		Focusing on a K through 12 school system, should transgender girls who are biological males be allowed to use girls' bathrooms and play on girls' sports teams?
unidentified		You have 60 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		I'm a mother of three daughters in Virginia public schools, and nothing is more important to me than their safety and their experience in schools.
		I'm also a former federal agent, and I work to investigate crimes against children.
		And so nothing is more important to me than the safety of all of our children.
		And that work, in part, has earned me the endorsement of Virginia's Police Benevolent Association.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		Ms. Nobel Prize is a very important thing to do.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		importantly, to prosecute on issues related to what's happening in our schools and each individual community, I think it's important that we have parents and teachers and administrators making decisions about their individual schools, not politicians.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		And if we are talking about the safety of our children, I would ask why my opponent continues to support efforts to defund public safety, an effort carried on continually by this administration.
unidentified		Once again, the question was, should transgender girls who are biological males be allowed to use girls' bathrooms and play on girls' sports teams in K through 12?
unidentified		You have 15 seconds to clarify.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		In cases across Virginia, I think it's incumbent upon parents and educators and administrators in each local community to make decisions locally.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		That's what this is about.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears?
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		There should never be a moment.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		In my goodness, we finally have her saying that, but you voted for that.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears.
		Can you find intruding on top of your trial?
		Ms. Earl Sears.
		This is Ms. Spanberger's time.
		I have a follow-up question for Ms. Spanberger.
		Would you rescind the Yunkin administration policy requiring boys and girls to use bathrooms aligning with their biological sex?
		You have 30 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		My priority would be to ensure that local communities, importantly parents and teachers, educators, are able to work together to meet the unique needs of each school and each community.
		And that is important.
		And I say that as a mother of three daughters in Virginia public schools and as someone who used to investigate crimes against children.
		The way that we keep our children safe is by ensuring they are safe in schools, which includes funding law enforcement and public safety.
unidentified		But Ms. Spanberger, the question was, would you rescind the Yunkin administration policy requiring boys and girls to use bathrooms aligning with their biological sex?
unidentified		You have 15 seconds to clarify that question.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		Yes, sir.
		And my answer is that in each local community, decisions should be made between parents and educators and teachers in each community.
		It shouldn't be dictated by politicians.
unidentified		Please don't interrupt.
		We're coming to you next.
		Okay.
		Thank you, Ms. Spanberger.
		Ms. Earl Sears, you say that you do not support biological males identifying as females, playing in girls' sports, and have pledged to sign legislation restricting bathrooms by birth sex.
		Does this position discriminate against transgender girls?
		You have 60 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		I'm not for discriminating against anyone.
		What I'm saying is just very plain common sense.
		And I'm going to answer the question my opponent refused to answer, which is simply this.
		I will not rescind the governor's executive order.
		We know that girls want to have privacy.
		It's really that simple.
		And my opponent will not answer the question because she voted for, she voted for men nude in girls' locker rooms, in bathrooms, and in girls' sports.
		She will refuse to protect our girls in Title IX, which is simply an opportunity for girls to have their faith, their safe space.
		This is not hard.
		Are you going to change in a gym where men are nude in the locker rooms?
		Are you going to do that, Abigail?
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		I don't think you will.
		What about your girl children if they came home crying and said that there was a male in the locker room?
		What would you do?
unidentified		You will both have a chance to rebut, too.
		So I want to make sure that you both understand that.
		Ms. Earl Sears, a follow-up question now.
		You said in supporting that bathroom legislation that this is, quote, a safety issue.
		Are transgender students a safety threat?
		Yes or no?
		And why?
		You have 30 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		I'm sorry, how did you ask that?
unidentified		Are transgender students a safety threat?
		Yes or no?
		And why?
		You have 30 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So we know that biological men are larger in strength than women.
		We understand this.
		This is biology.
		If you look at football teams, you can see the difference between males and females.
		This is not hard.
		And that's why I'm asking my opponent, if your little girl comes home and said she was forced to undress in a locker room with a biological boy, what would you say?
		She's crying.
		What would you say?
		Are you not going to answer?
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears, now we're going to go to the opportunity for rebuttal now.
		And Ms. Spanberger, we're going to start with you.
		30 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		My opponent was asked about her record of discrimination.
		And importantly, my opponent has previously said that she does not think that gay couples should be allowed to marry.
		She has said that she is discrimination.
		Quote unquote, morally opposed to same sex.
unidentified		Ms. Spanberger's time for rebuffing.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		My opponent has also previously said that she thinks it's okay for someone to be fired from their job for being gay.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		That is discrimination.
unidentified		Ms. Spanberger, your time is up.
		And now, Ms. Earl Sears, it's your turn for rebuttal.
		You have 30 seconds.
		Yes.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So again, I want you to go to spanbergerlies.com.
		Listen, she's talking about defunding and all that.
		You know who voted to defund the police?
		You did when you voted for the Justice and Policing Act.
		You voted for that, and you took money from the PAC that said we must defund the police and get rid of their qualified immunity.
		When are you going to give back that money?
		Thousands of dollars.
		I will not defund the police or get rid of their policy.
unidentified		We have other topics to get to.
		We're going to move on now to reproductive rights.
		Deanna?
		Thanks, Tom.
		Abortion is legal in Virginia through the second trimester with limited third trimester exceptions.
		There's also a push to codify abortion access in our state constitution.
		Ms. Earl Sears, you have supported both a 15-week and six-week abortion limit.
		As governor, what would you advocate for?
		You have 60 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So my position is that the Commonwealth needs to come together and figure out where it wants to be.
		It's not going to be my view.
		It's going to be a view of the majority.
		My opponent, on the other hand, has the extremist view, which is abortion up until the very hour that the baby could be born.
		Up until the very minute.
		the very minute.
		And so you would have a baby aborted on the table.
		What do we do then, Abigail?
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears.
unidentified		What does Earl Sears?
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		With a full live baby aborted on the body that could be born.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears, I need you to ask the question that I'm asking.
		I'm asking the questions here.
		And so I want to know about what would you advocate for in terms of a limit.
		I know that you just said it's not about your view, but you will have veto powers if you became governor.
		So what would you be willing to support as governor?
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		You have 30 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So I've answered the question I've said.
		It's not my view.
		It's going to be what the majority of Virginians want.
		And by the way, there's a constitutional amendment, and the voters will make that decision.
unidentified		Thank you, Ms. Earl Sears.
		Ms. Spamberger, you say you want to keep Virginia the last bastion of reproductive freedom in the South.
		Do you support any limits on abortion?
		You have 60 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		When the Dobbs decision was made, it was very quickly clear that state after state would move to restrict abortion access, as my opponent has previously supported.
		In states where they further restricted abortion access, Ms. Earl Sears could be born.
		Women pregnant with very wanted children, women with ectopic pregnancies were sent home, and women have died.
		If my opponent were to become governor, that is what she would inflict a fine lie like that.
		Virginia.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears, Ms. Earl Sears, Ms. Earl Sears, Virginia's voter standard.
unidentified		I don't care if you're talking over Ms. Speaker.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		The Rose standard.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		I support the constitutional amendment that is moving forward.
unidentified		That makes clear the hear Ms. Spamberger if you're talking over her.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		I support the Rose standard, which is what this codification of a constitutional amendment moving forward would be.
		That's what I will support as governor, though I will not have a vote on it.
		I will support it.
		But importantly, my opponent has threatened murder to women who have had abortions.
		That is not the type of leadership money.
unidentified		Ms. Spanberger, you're out of time.
unidentified		I just want to follow up.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		I need a rebuttal.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		Well, I need a rebuttal.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears, I have to follow up right now because it was difficult for me to hear Ms. Spamberger, and I need to make sure that I have clarity on her answer.
		So just to be clear, are there any limits that you support in terms of abortion access, including for minors?
		You have 30 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		I support the current laws within Virginia, which include limits on minors obtaining abortions, which include limits after the second trimester.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		I support the current laws here in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and that is what is moving forward as a constitutional amendment here in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
unidentified		Thank you, Ms. Spanberger.
unidentified		We are now going to move on to immigration.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		I thought I was going to get an opportunity to rebut.
unidentified		We're moving on to other topics.
		We have a lot to cover tonight, Ms. Earl Sears.
		So we'll get to you in a moment on a different topic.
		Now it's immigration and public safety.
		We're going to start with Governor Glenn Young has tasked Virginia State Police with helping ICE to remove people living in the country illegally.
		Ms. Spanberger, we're going to start with you.
		You've said using local and state police for ICE raids is dangerous.
		Are there any situations in which you would support local law enforcement assisting ICE?
		You have 60 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		Absolutely.
		I'm a former federal agent.
		I used to work narcotics and money laundering cases.
		I regularly worked on task force arrests and search warrants in partnership with the border and state police as a federal law enforcement officer.
		Importantly, anytime there is a warrant, an arrest warrant, a search warrant to detain someone, absolutely local law enforcement, local resources should and must be employed.
		That is why, as my opponent has somewhat erroneously said, I never ever would support making Virginia providing any sort of sanctuary policies here because local and state law enforcement must always work federal agencies when there is a warrant.
		Importantly, what I have been talking about is, and anytime there is someone with any level of criminality, someone wanted for a criminal offense, absolutely that cooperation shouldn't just occur, but it must.
unidentified		Thank you, Ms. Spanberger.
		Now, Ms. Earl Sears, you've said you support local law enforcement's involvement with ICE raids, but critics argue that in high immigrant communities, they're seeing fewer people reporting crimes and cooperating with police.
		Now, are you concerned about those negative impacts to public safety?
		You have 60 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So, I'm just going to say, folks, go to spambergerlies.com.
		I think we're about up to number 10.
		She's accused me of murder, which is very interesting because the very person who spouted murder, you won't even say that they should get out of the race, and now you're talking about this?
		My goodness gracious.
		We have found 4,000 illegals who are criminally here.
		And the number three MS-13 gang leader here we found.
		We have found communist Chinese gangs here.
		We have found cartel members here.
		And they're here because my opponent did not vote to shut down our borders.
		And because of you and that vote, fentanyl came across the borders and killed five Virginians every week.
		Where were you when we needed you for that vote?
		And then out of your own mouth, Abigail, you have said the first thing you're going to do is to make Virginia a sanctuary state.
		I didn't say that.
		You said that.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears.
		That's your lie if you're going to sit down.
		The question was: are you concerned about people not being able to or not cooperating with police, those people who are here possibly illegally for fear of being deported?
		That was the question we were looking for, the answer to that question.
		You have 15 seconds to close.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So as an immigrant to this great country, I understand that the first part of obeying the laws of the country is that we have to obey the laws of the country.
		And we, I am focusing on those who are criminally, illegally here, and we don't need them here.
		And my opponent did not vote for the Lake and Riley Act, which simply said if you're criminally illegally here, murderers, rapists, pedophiles have to go back home.
unidentified		We're going to move on to the next topic: education with my colleague Deanna.
		Thank you, Tom.
		Now on the topic of education.
		Educating children in the Commonwealth is a top issue for Virginia voters in this election, as it was four years ago.
		Ms. Earl Sears, you have stated you want parents more involved in their children's education.
		Would you include parents in designing school curriculum, or should that be left up to the educators?
		You have 60 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		Yes, so I absolutely believe that parents ought to be involved in their child's education.
		You know, I am my child's first teacher, and I don't co-parent with the government.
		So that's why I strongly support parents being involved in education.
		But you know who doesn't?
		My opponent, Abigail Spanberger.
		She had the opportunity to vote for the Parents' Rights Act, but she didn't.
		It simply said this.
		If the curriculum is being changed, then I need to know as a parent.
		Abigail, why did you vote against parents on that?
		And it also said, if my child is not on grade level reading, writing, arithmetic, all of that by the third grade, then I, as a parent, needs to know.
		Abigail voted against the parents knowing where their child was by the time they were on grade level.
		Why would you do that?
		Why are you voting against parents?
		Why are you not voting for them?
		Then she voted against the parents knowing whether there was violence in the schools.
		Abigail, this is a simple question.
		Why did you vote for that?
		Why would you vote for parents not knowing if violence is being done?
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears, I have a follow-up question for you.
		I'm specifically asking not just about general involvement in education, but about designing the school curriculum more specifically.
		So is that something you believe parents should be involved in, or do you believe that educators should be taking the lead and it should be left up to them?
		You have 30 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		As I said, parents, we are their parents all day, twice on Sundays.
		We are their parents.
		We must be involved.
		How will we know what is happening in the schools?
		How will we know if our children are being educated?
		You know, when Ralph Northam, the Democrat governor, voted to shut down government, he shut down our schools.
		And as a result, there was a learning loss.
		And my opponent, Abigail Spanberger, when we wanted to reopen the schools, the governor immediately said upon inauguration, the schools must be open.
		Abigail said, no, they must be out for a whole semester.
		She took all that money from the teachers, and that's what they wanted.
		And that's what I'm saying.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears, you're out of time.
		Ms. Spamberger, should the governor and state agencies decide which books are in school classrooms or should parents have a voice in that decision?
		You have 60 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		I'm a mother of three daughters in Virginia Public Schools, and just this week I have spent time at my daughter's school for a school event, and I have emailed with another one of my daughter's teachers about her ongoing work.
		So she should be advised that I've had some of that communication.
		But it is important that parents are involved every step of the way, as I have been.
		In fact, you vote against the students.
		My Human Rights Act, with my ninth grade daughter, who is actually here with us in the audience.
		It's because of communication from her teacher that I purchased the books that she'll be studying.
		Parent engagement is extraordinarily important, and I support the strength of our public schools because public schools across Virginia provide opportunities.
		They provide opportunities for students everywhere.
		And unlike my opponent, I do not support defunding public schools.
		I do not support taking public dollars out of public schools, as my opponent has advocated for the entire season.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears, we're not going to be able to get to as many topics if we keep having to give Ms. Spanberger time.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		It's a lie.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		I think I'm up to lie 12.
unidentified		Ms. Myby.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		To answer your question, Lieutenant Governor, it was federal government overreach and an unfunded meeting.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		That is what I told my earlier colleagues.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		If you want to be federal, you should have stayed in Congress.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears said it was federal.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		You should have stayed in the past.
unidentified		Moving on to the next topic now.
		Please, we're going to go to Ms. Spanberger here on the topic of marijuana.
		You have stated your support legalizing a retail market for recreational marijuana that prioritizes public safety.
		What public safety concerns do you have?
		You have 30 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		It's important that there be transparency in what is available on the market.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		As a former federal agent who worked narcotics cases, as a CIA officer who tracked transnational criminal organizations, as the only person on stage who's had bills signed into law by President Trump related to stopping the flow of fentanyl into the United States.
unidentified		However, you're talking over each other.
unidentified		Please continue.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		As the only person on stage who's had a bill signed into law by President Trump restricting fentanyl into our country and tightening our border security.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		And as the only person on stage with the endorsement of the police benevolent association, it is extraordinarily important that we have transparency and that there is a clear market in order to be enforced because it is in the absence of an open and clear and extraordinarily transparent market that law enforcement is not able to do what you're saying.
unidentified		Ms. Spamberger, your time is up.
		Now we'll go to Ms. Earl Sears on this issue.
		The governor has twice vetoed bipartisan efforts to legalize a retail market for recreational cannabis.
		Would you sign a bill legalizing the commercial sale of any cannabis products in Virginia?
		You have 30 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		I believe in medicinal marijuana.
		I believe it has value.
		But you know, I had a business, and when I had my business and my employees came up positive for marijuana, they couldn't work for me.
		They couldn't drive my trucks.
		They couldn't go in and repair anything.
		We were working on gas.
		We're working on electric.
		We can't afford to have people who are working and they don't know what they're doing.
		They'll blow everything up.
		Now, my opponent, I don't understand.
		You know, she says one thing and then she does another, or she does one thing and says another.
		We can't figure her out.
unidentified		Ms. Earl Sears, who are you, Abby?
		Ms. Earl Sears, we are moving on to talk about the current administration, and I'm going to be starting with you for this topic.
		A central theme of your campaign is let's keep a good thing going.
		Referring to Governor Yunkin's time in office, is there anything that you would do differently?
		You have 30 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So the governor and I have had many talks, as you can imagine.
		We ran as a team and we work as a team.
		And I've been previously elected in 2001, and then I left political office.
		And, you know, I saw how badly our children were not being educated.
		And so I came back.
		I said somebody ought to do something.
		And I figured that was me.
		So the governor and I, as I've said, we've created all of these wonderful jobs.
		In fact, my opponent was before the State Chamber of Commerce and saying in January that she was running on the successes of all the businesses that we've been able to bring here.
		Now she's suddenly running away from it.
unidentified		Just a quick follow-up, Ms. Earl Sears.
		So is there one thing that you would do differently from Governor Yunkin?
		You have 15 seconds to clarify.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		So you know who wasn't running away from all the wonderful successes we've had in bringing jobs here?
		My opponent.
		She loved everything that we've done.
		So why would I run away?
		And by the way, the things that I'm talking with the governor about, I'm not going to disclose here to you.
unidentified		Okay, thank you, Ms. Earl Sears.
		Ms. Spamberger, Governor Yunkin is wrapping up his term with positive approval ratings according to our Emerson College Next Art poll.
		Are there any Yunkin policies or priorities you would keep if you were elected governor?
		You have 30 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		Absolutely.
		I think Governor Yunkin has made a strong path forward on advanced nuclear, welcoming advanced nuclear here to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
		It's something that I supported during my time in Congress and as governor, I will continue to ensure that Virginia has been a leader.
		Ma'am, that is not true.
		That's true.
		I support all of the strategy, and I think advanced to let her speak.
		But importantly, places where I do differ.
		Places where I differ would be on the fact that Virginia lost its place as the number one place for business, and we have had seven months of rising unemployment rates here in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
		And I would work to lower costs and grow our economy in the face of these challenges.
unidentified		Thank you, Ms. Spanberger.
		We're moving on to our next question.
		Yeah, we are winding down tonight, and we want to end with one, one fun question.
		So, this will be, I think, something that will bring a smile to our faces tonight.
		The mother of presidents is the state of Virginia.
		Little history lesson here.
		So, Virginia has eight U.S.-born presidents.
		We'll start with Ms. Fanberger.
		Which one is your favorite?
		You have 30 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		As a UVA alumna, I'm going to have to go with Thomas Jefferson.
unidentified		And why?
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		Because he started the university.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		With all due respect to graduates of other universities.
unidentified		Okay.
		Okay.
		We have Ms. Earl Sears.
		Who is your favorite Virginia president?
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		Well, I would have to say it would have to be the very first one, George Washington.
		He was a profile in courage, absolutely.
		It is because of him why we don't have monarchs here.
		It is because of him why we have a constitutional republic.
		Without him, I don't think we would have had what.
unidentified		Thank you, Ms. Earl Sears.
		We want to make sure that we get to closing statements, so we'll begin with you.
		You have 30 seconds.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		Thank you for coming.
		And those of you who are listening, this is a momentous occasion, and it's very important.
		And you know, I ran immense prison ministries, I've said.
		I have mopped the floors of a homeless shelter, and I have given quite a bit of my life to service.
		I'm a United States Marine.
		I know how to defend and deliver for Virginia.
		I will continue to do so.
		I think I'm the only blue-collar worker in this race.
		Please support me for governor.
unidentified		Thank you, Ms. Earl Sears.
		Ms. Spanberger, why should you be governor?
		30 seconds.
abigail spanberger ▲ ● ▼		When I served as a federal agent at CIA and then in Congress, I always endeavored to put Virginians first.
		As governor, I will do the same thing.
		I will always put Virginians first.
		And importantly, at this time, when we are seeing attacks on Virginia's health care, Virginia's workforce, and the tariffs that are wreaking havoc on our communities, my opponent has not done the same, putting her allegiance to Donald Trump first, no matter the cost.
		As governor, I will work to lower costs, protect our schools, strengthen our schools, and keep our public safety.
		That is why Virginia's firefighters, police, Democrats, and Republicans are supporting every Trump we have.
winsome earle-sears ▲ ● ▼		I tell you, we would be drunk by now.
unidentified		That is all the time we have.
		We want to thank you both, Abigail Spanberger, and Winsom Earl Sears for joining us tonight.
		Thank you for joining us on this debate stage.
		One of you will be the first female governor of Virginia.
		A reminder to voters, Election Day is November 4th.
		Have a great night.
		Premiering this Friday at 7 p.m. on C-SPAN, Obama White House Chief of Staff Rah Emanuel and Vice President Mike Pence, once colleagues in Congress, sit down together for this episode of Ceasefire, hosted by Politico's White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns, ceasefire, bridging the divide in American politics, where the shouting stops and the conversation begins.
		Two leaders, one goal, to find common ground only on C-SPAN.
		On the ninth day of the federal government shutdown, Senate lawmakers failed for the seventh time to agree to a funding measure to reopen the government.
		On the stamps of the U.S. Capitol, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed support for a standalone bill to pay members of the military while continuing to push for a permanent extension of the Affordable Care Act health care tax credits that are due to expire at the end of the year.
		House Speaker Mike Johnson held a press conference alongside House Republican leadership and Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Mike Bost.
		At the podium, he mentioned his Washington Journal appearance and a viewer call from an upset young military mother with two special needs children who lives paycheck to paycheck.
		There are at least three House Republicans who want the House to return next week whether the shutdown is resolved or not.
		Stay with the C-SPAN networks and go to C-SPAN.org to watch interviews, news briefings, and floor speeches with lawmakers.
		C-SPAN, your source for continuing coverage of shutdown 2025.
		C-SPAN's Washington Journal, our live forum inviting you to discuss the latest issues in government, politics, and public policy from Washington, D.C. to across the country.
		Coming up Friday morning, we'll talk about the enhanced subsidies for the Affordable Care Act health insurance plans that are set to expire at the end of the year with Cato Institute Health Policy Studies Director Michael Cannon and Families USA Executive Director Anthony Wright.
		And then we'll discuss day 10 of the government shutdown first with Missouri Republican Congressman Mark Alford and with Wisconsin Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Moore.
		C-SPAN's Washington Journal, join the conversation live at 7 Eastern Friday morning on C-SPAN, C-SPAN Now, our free mobile app, or online at c-SPAN.org.
		Here's a look at some live coverage coming up on Friday on C-SPAN.
		First, on C-SPAN at 10 a.m. Eastern, House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders will be holding a press conference on Capitol Hill to discuss the ongoing government shutdown.
		And then at noon, the American Enterprise Institute and Pepperdine University School of Public Policy will host a conversation with professor, legal scholar, and author Robert George about the intersection of freedom of speech, the press, and religion.

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