Spanberger wins reelection in competitive Virginia House race

Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) is projected to defeat Republican challenger state Del. Nick Freitas (R) to win a second term representing Virginia’s 7th Congressional District in the House.

Spanberger’s victory in one of Virginia’s most competitive races keeps the seat in Democratic hands after she flipped it blue two years ago by defeating a Republican incumbent. The Associated Press called the race on Sunday afternoon.

President Trump won the district by roughly seven points in 2016, and this election cycle, Spanberger was part of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Frontline Program supporting vulnerable incumbents.

Her reelection bid was seen as a “toss up” by Cook Political Report until roughly a month before the election, when the political analysis newsletter changed its rating to “lean Democrat” in early October. Spanberger was propelled to victory in 2018 by winning large margins in Richmond suburbs, a trend expected to hold up in 2020.

Spanberger, a former CIA officer, cultivated a reputation as a moderate during her first term in Congress despite Republican efforts during the campaign to paint her as too liberal for the district.

During the campaign, Spanberger highlighted that she broke with Democratic House leadership on their $3 trillion coronavirus relief package and was pushing to take up a smaller package proposed by the Trump administration in order to get aid out to people faster.