Former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder cautioned Democrats in the commonwealth against a tumultuous primary, arguing it was a lack of Democratic solidarity preceded the 2021 election of Governor Glenn Youngkin.
While U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger (R-VA-07) is leaving Congress to run for governor, last week Punchbowl News reported Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) is considering entering the race.
This reportedly caused Wilder to tell The Richmond Times-Dispatch on Sunday that the current Republican governor was only “elected because of lack of solidarity behind the Democratic candidate,” and to question whether Democratic disunity could allow Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, the only Republican elected to statewide office who has declared her candidacy, to win in 2025.
While Wilder reportedly told the outlet he is remaining neutral in the Democratic primary, he seemed to suggest Spanberger may struggle to reach minority voters.
“I talk to a lot of people who don’t want to repeat what just occurred in the presidential election,” the former governor told the outlet.
Wilder later reportedly told the Times-Dispatch that Spanberger has insufficiently proven herself to the Democrats’ base, questioning, “What does Spanberger bring to the table that would attract all of the constituent parts of the party that would be necessary for her to win?”
His comments come after he strongly opposed the nomination of former Governor Terry McAuliffe in 2021, when he questioned the McAuliffe for seeking the endorsements of former Governor Ralph Northam and former Attorney General Mark Herring, who were both accused of wearing blackface in yearbook photos.
Wilder, who was the first black man elected governor in the United States, also noted in 2021, “All of the candidates [McAuliffe] opposed except one, were Black, including two women, whom he felt not qualified to be given the chance that he had been given.”
Earle-Sears, who is the first black woman to be elected Virginia’s attorney general, declared her candidacy in September. She was recently endorsed by Youngkin, who described her as part of his winning team during the 2021 elections.
“There could not be a better team to carry on our success for Virginians for the next four years,” said Youngkin, who also endorsed Attorney General Jason Miyares for reelection.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Doug Wilder” by Doug Wilder.
