© 2024
Virginia's Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Spanberger and Freitas Spar in First and Only Debate

Steve Helber
/
AP

 

 

The congressional race in Virginia’s 7th District is one of the most competitive in the state. It pits incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger against Republican challenger Nick Freitas. The two met for their only debate Tuesdaynight.

The wide-ranging debate, hosted by VPM and Chamber RVA, covered everything from the pandemic to taxes. 

Virginia’s 7th Congressional District stretches from Culpeper to Blackstone, including the suburbs west of Richmond.

Republican Nick Freitas, a veteran and current member of the Virginia General Assembly, says he doesn’t support additional COVID relief payments directly to individuals and that the federal government should focus on reducing spending. 

“I believe that individual liberty, private property rights, self determination, equality before the law, this is fundamental to who we are as a country, it is fundamental to who we are as a people,” Freitas said during his opening statement. 

Democrat Abigail Spanberger is a former CIA agent and the current Congresswoman for the central Virginia district. She says corporate taxes should be increased and a second stimulus package needs to be passed quickly to provide support to people and businesses. 

“I am rated as the most bipartisan member of the Virginia delegation because that is how we get things done,” Spanberger said. “I have been intentional with my focus of working across the aisle, and with everyone, to try and deliver for this district.”   

The two candidates had at least one strong area of agreement: that increasing access to broadband internet should be a top infrastructure priority for the largely rural district. 

RADIOIQ has interviewed each candidate in this race. You can learn more about Spanberger here, and Freitas here

 
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.

 

 

Mallory Noe-Payne is a Radio IQ reporter based in Richmond.
Related Content