Overview

• Abigail Spanberger told local TV she favors Virginia’s prior approach letting schools decide transgender athletes’ participation individually based on fairness, competitiveness, and safety.
• She noted the process was used for about a decade with roughly 40 students, saying some requests were approved and others denied.
• Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican Governors Association, and conservative groups amplified a viral clip, asserting Spanberger backs biological males in girls’ sports and facilities.
• In follow-up questioning, Spanberger declined a yes-or-no answer and at one point pivoted to themes like household costs before saying she would support a bill preserving significant local input.
• Opponents highlight her record co-sponsoring the Equality Act and voting against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, as federal Title IX scrutiny of Virginia districts has raised funding stakes.