In roughly one week, Virginians will vote in a keystone election that many will use to interpret Americans’ opinions on the second Trump term. The race between Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears has been highly contentious; yet, in the latest polling, Spanberger holds an edge over her Republican opponent.
Multiple factors render the relationship that the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial candidates have with the University of Virginia more relevant than ever. UVA has been at the center of a conflict between higher education and the federal government, amid increasing pressure to address biases in admissions processes, curricula, and academic environments across the country. Consequently — especially for college students — it is essential to understand the policies and histories of our politicians regarding higher education, especially the flagship institutions of their state.
UVA has become much more involved with state and national politics over the past year than many students, faculty, and alumni would have liked to see. Much more friction has occurred recently regarding the power elected officials wield over the University’s leadership, including the appointments made by current Governor Glenn Youngkin to UVA’s board of visitors, a pattern likely to continue under the next administration. The resignation of Jim Ryan and the Compact for Higher Education are both glaring examples of how external political forces have become more intertwined with the University’s decisions and future. These events have pushed many involved with the University, as students and staff, to be much more aware of the upcoming election and what’s at stake for the University’s direction under changing supervision.
This past week, Abigail Spanberger campaigned in Charlottesville, Virginia, standing amidst a background of UVA students and accompanied by figures Bill Nye and Pete Buttigieg. In front of an audience of nearly 1,300 people, Spanberger tapped into the long history she shares with UVA and the surrounding town of her alma mater.
Abigail Spanberger attended the University of Virginia, met her husband as a student here, and graduated in 2001, indicating a deep and longstanding relationship with UVA and an understanding of the University’s role within the state. In light of Jim Ryan’s resignation this past summer, she drew on her status as an alumna to shed light on what she saw as the state government’s failure to defend the University against federal overreach. She committed herself to strengthening the University and its independence as an academic institution.
In comparison, Winsome Earle-Sears has not visited the University in the democratic stronghold of Charlottesville since this past April, when she was hosted by the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics and The Jefferson Council. At this event, she engaged in an analogy of Virginia as a car, pointing to education as being one of the “four wheels,” demonstrating her campaign’s consideration of the vital role that education systems play in Virginia.
Winsome Earle-Sears’ history with the University of Virginia is not as direct as Abigail Spanberger’s, but her political experience on the Virginia Board of Education has undoubtedly provided her with a background in the political environment of Virginia’s education systems, policy, and funding. Following her appointment by former Governor Bob McDonnell, she served on the Board from 2011 to 2015, influencing policy decisions for Virginia’s education system. Throughout her time on the Virginia State Board of Education, Earle-Sears was a major proponent of school choice, but was also involved in controversies over the dilution of sexual misconduct guidelines used in schools across the country. However, her position on this board significantly bolstered her political career and even grounded her position as the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.
There is a notable difference in the stances that these candidates have taken towards UVA and higher education in the state as a whole. It is worth noting that Spanberger ranks considerably better with young voters, so the lack of context around Earle-Sears and her stance on higher education in Virginia may reflect her campaign’s focus on galvanizing support from other demographics.
Overall, students and staff at the University of Virginia must consider which candidate they believe will most benefit the University at the state level, amid increasing friction between higher education and the current administration in Washington. The University of Virginia will be at the forefront of an evolving higher education landscape, especially under the jurisdiction of a candidate elected in one of the first contests following the 2025 election. This conflict in higher education in the US could lead UVA’s future down very different paths, contingent on which governor’s policies will shape Virginia’s relationship with the federal government as influence on higher education ramps up.
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