ALEXANDRIA, Va. — At a rally in Alexandria alongside hundreds of Virginians, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund yesterday announced its endorsement of Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger to serve as the next Governor of Virginia.

Spanberger, a former Moms Demand Action volunteer, and Moms Demand Action Executive Director Angela Ferrell-Zabala celebrated the endorsement alongside local law enforcement officers, Moms Demand Action volunteers, Virginia students, Virginia elected officials, and community members. Addressing the large crowd, Spanberger spoke about how her background as a former federal law enforcement officer, her role as a parent of three kids, and her record of passing commonsense legislation in the U.S. House informs her commitment to bringing people together to build a safer Virginia.

“Advocates for safety in our General Assembly have passed legislation to strengthen Virginia’s safe storage laws, prevent the sale of large-capacity magazines, and crack down on ghost guns. As Governor, I will sign legislation into law to make progress on these issues and keep Virginia families safe,” said Spanberger. “I will not veto commonsense proposals, like our current governor has done. Because to prevent heartbreaking disasters, firearms must be secured when near minors to save lives. And if we are serious about stopping violent criminals, we must prevent them from manufacturing and distributing illegal, untraceable firearms.”

Spanberger continued, “In the years since I put on that first red shirt and began standing with moms in the community, I remain inspired by the tenacity, the resolve, and the focus of so many Virginians who remain committed to ensuring that our Commonwealth is a safer, stronger place for our families. As I stand here today, I see Virginia parents, I see Virginia community members, and I see Virginia leaders who are committed to putting in the hard work to put an end to gun violence in our communities.”

“Former federal law enforcement officer, Moms Demand Action volunteer, and now Virginia’s next governor — Abigail Spanberger is the leader this moment demands,” said Ferrell-Zabala. “Our movement is ready to go all in to elect Abigail so that Virginia becomes a Commonwealth where gun safety is about common sense, not partisan politics.”

During the rally, City of Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey announced his endorsement of Spanberger to serve as Virginia’s next Governor. Casey, a lifelong Alexandria resident, was elected as Alexandria’s sheriff in November 2021.

“As a law enforcement officer, there’s nothing more important than developing trust with the people that you serve. And I can tell you that trust plays an important role in keeping Virginians, our community members, our sheriff’s deputies, and our police officers alike safe from gun violence. And trust is built on transparency. It’s built on accountability. And most importantly, it’s built on listening to the people that we serve, like you all right here today,” said Sheriff Casey. “At a time when chaos and division is far too common in our politics, it’s rare to find a person who both understands the challenges facing our communities, but also has earned the trust needed to take meaningful action. And I believe Abigail Spanberger is one of those leaders.”

Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid — an early endorser of Spanberger to serve as Governor — also spoke at the rally.

“Abigail knows firsthand what is at stake when we talk about the safety of our kids and our communities, not only in Fairfax, but across the Commonwealth of Virginia. I know from my own experience with Abigail that she will listen to the needs of law enforcement,” said Sheriff Kincaid. “She will always push to make sure that our deputies and police officers have the resources we need to protect our communities, keep guns out of the hands of those who are prohibited by law from owning them, and make sure that Virginia’s families feel safe. Nothing could be more important, and there is no better person for this job than Abigail Spanberger.”

Earlier on Thursday, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund also announced a $1 million investment in support of Spanberger’s campaign.

“As a former CIA officer and federal law enforcement officer who was also a Moms Demand Action volunteer, Abigail Spanberger understands that commonsense laws to keep guns out of dangerous hands are crucial to ensuring public safety,” said John Feinblatt, President, Everytown for Gun Safety. “Everytown is incredibly proud to support Abigail Spanberger, who has a long record of fighting tooth and nail to protect Virginia families.”

BACKGROUND

Spanberger knows firsthand the responsibility that comes with owning a firearm.

As a former federal law enforcement officer, Spanberger carried a gun and high-capacity magazines marked ‘for law enforcement use only’ every day for her job. While serving as a federal agent, she worked narcotics trafficking and money laundering cases, executed search warrants, and arrested criminals.