Nationally, there’s a lot at stake this November during the midterm elections. In Virginia that political battle is playing out in the 7th Congressional District - a toss-up race that’s attracted national attention.
On the drive from Richmond to Culpeper it’s mostly country on the radio. The western suburbs of the city give way to corn fields and cows. But even alone in the car, politics can’t be avoided.
Ads for Democrat Abigail Spanberger pepper the airwaves.
“Service is about putting the mission first, not a political party,” she says.
Spanberger is trying to strike a moderate tone in this district. Last year, 51-percent of voters here supported the Republican candidate for Governor and 47-percent voted Democrat.
A Single Debate
Before a recent debate in Culpeper, Janet McDonnell stands on the corner of a busy intersection holding signs for Spanberger’s opponent, incumbent Republican Dave Brat.
Cars honk and wave their support as they pass by. The debate was the first and only in the tight race.
For McDonnell, the Spanberger campaign is an example of outside liberal influence. She points to Spanberger’s large fundraising numbers.
“I can’t say for sure whether some of it’s coming from our friend George Soros or not, but I would not be surprised,” says McDonnell.
Spanberger is a former CIA agent who supports gun rights and says border security is important. She consistently says she’ll work with the Trump administration.
“Bipartisanship is what leads to long lasting truly impactful legislation and it takes a lot of work to sit across the table with someone and discuss issues that are truly difficult and for some people truly emotional,” Spanberger told reporters after the debate.
During the debate, Spanberger said the country needs comprehensive immigration reform, and more competition in healthcare. She supports another government-run option.
“We need people with greater access to healthcare, greater access to affordable healthcare,” Spanberger said. “And that comes when we give people more options.”
But Republican Dave Brat’s strategy is to keep pulling Spanberger left, tying her to the unpopular House Democratic leader.
“A vote for my opponent will be a vote for every single Nancy Pelosi agenda item. On and on and on,” Brat repeated the line multiple times throughout the debate.
Brat is a former economics professor. He’s focused his campaign on his own free-market conservative agenda -- including support for the recent tax cuts.
“The economy is booming now. Wages are going through the roof and women and African American unemployment rates are at an all time low due to good Republican policy,” Brat said.
A National Stage
For voters at a nearby bar, this race is larger than two candidates. It’s about Democrats vs. Republicans. And the direction of the country.
Michael Carlson lives in the area and works in landscaping. He thinks Democrats are too forgiving on immigration and their tax policies hurt poor and middle class Americans.
“I’m definitely against the Democratic Party. I always have been,” Carlson said. “I’ve been a Republican since I was like 11 years old. So I definitely disagree with what the Democrats agree with.”
For Karol Hochheimer the race is equally emotional. She lives outside Fredericksburg. While she’s voted Republican before, she doesn’t think she ever will again.
She thinks Republicans have disrespected women, and silenced Democrats by calling them “the mob.”
“Every fiber of my being is like, fight! You know? Fight for something better,” said Hochheimer.
And while they disagree on who to vote for, Carlson and Hochheimer agree they’ll get the chance to influence national politics. And that they’ll both keep fighting in the run-up to election day. A battleground for a vision of America, playing out right here in central Virginia.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
