Gov. Abigail Spanberger issued a call for unity in her inauguration speech Saturday while she denounced federal policies coming out of Washington, D.C., that she said have hurt Virginians.
Without once mentioning President Donald Trump by name, Spanberger issued a strong rebuke against the policies of his administration and connected them to the increased cost of living for Virginians.
“I know many of you are worried about the recklessness coming out of Washington,” she said, as her tone grew firm. “You are worried about policies that are hurting our communities — cutting health care access, imperiling rural hospitals and driving up costs. You are worried about Washington policies that are closing off markets, hurting innovation and private industry, and attacking those who have devoted their lives to public service.
“You are worried about an administration that is gilding buildings while schools crumble, breaking the social safety net and sowing fear across our communities — betraying the values of who we are as Americans, the very values we celebrate here on these steps,” she continued.
She called on Virginians who may hold different perspectives or political views to come together to “forge a path forward” and pursue progress. She closed out her speech reiterating a cornerstone of her campaign, to “work relentlessly to make life more affordable” for her roughly 8 million constituents.
Her plan to make life more affordable
In her inauguration speech, Spanberger outlined the key tenets of her effort to reduce the cost of living for Virginians.
She said her administration will tackle the high cost of housing for renters and owners, and cut red tape to increase housing supply and help communities to keep housing affordable. She asserted that her administration will work to lower energy costs by producing more energy in Virginia and ensuring high energy users pay their “fair share.” She added that her administration will protect access to health care by “cracking down” on the middlemen who are “driving up drug prices,” and help Virginians to avoid going into medical debt because of a single emergency.
Spanberger, a former CIA officer, positioned her campaign last fall as a repudiation of the Trump administration and focused her messaging on the affordability crisis faced by many in the commonwealth. She swept the ballot box with a 15 percentage point lead over her Republican opponent, former Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.
Democrats won decisive victories in Virginia’s House of Delegates elections as well. The state’s “off year” elections are often seen as a bellwether for the midterm elections and a referendum on the current presidential administration.
Spanberger, the first woman to be governor of Virginia, was sworn in as the 75th executive of the commonwealth on Saturday. Cannon fire punctuated her oath of office, and military aircraft flew overhead in a governor’s salute, offered by the Virginia National Guard.
Former state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi was sworn in as lieutenant governor, and former Del. Jay Jones was sworn in as attorney general.
