MECHANICSVILLE, Va. — Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger — running to serve as the next Governor of Virginia — today announced her key priorities to make Virginia more affordable, particularly by lowering healthcare and prescription drug costs for Virginia’s seniors and working families.

In front of a crowd at the Mechanicsville Drug Store in Hanover County — a family-owned pharmacy that has been open since 1957, Spanberger laid out policy priorities her administration will focus on to bring down costs for Virginians. Specifically, Spanberger made clear how she will save Virginians money, crack down on bad actors who inflate the cost of Virginians’ prescription drugs, improve access to affordable healthcare options in Virginia’s rural and underserved communities, and make sure no Virginian goes bankrupt because of a medical emergency.

“Across our Commonwealth, I’m hearing from Virginians whose healthcare and prescription drug costs are one more thing that keeps them up at night,” said Spanberger during the event. “Making our Commonwealth more affordable for families is a central focus of my campaign — not because some pollsters or pundits have told me it should be, but because I know that Virginians are facing real financial challenges.”

Spanberger continued, “There are concrete steps we can take right now to bring down drug prices and save Virginians money at the hospital and the pharmacy counter. And my administration will be focused on getting it done come January.”

During Wednesday’s event, Spanberger also made clear that she will be a Governor who stands up to the Trump Administration and Republicans in Washington who are threatening hundreds of thousands of Virginians’ access to affordable care.

“But Republicans in Congress are instead targeting Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, threatening to rip affordable healthcare coverage away from hundreds of thousands of our neighbors,” Spanberger said. “As the next Governor of Virginia, I will always protect Virginians’ quality, affordable healthcare — and all Virginians can count on me to defend their access to affordable coverage and prescription drugs. Because Virginia deserves a Governor who will not just talk about the high cost of living, but will actually put in the work to make Virginia more affordable.”

Tommy Thompson, the owner of the Mechanicsville Drug Store, praised Spanberger’s commitment to addressing the challenges facing Virginians.

“I’m excited to be here with a true leader — who I know wants to fix the issues that are hurting people here in Mechanicsville and across the Commonwealth. Although she didn’t represent this community in Congress, I have watched Abigail listen to the issues that local pharmacists and families are facing to better understand the problems healthcare workers are encountering,” said Thompson. “And she doesn’t just listen, she works to find solutions. That’s leadership. That’s why I know she’ll be focused on not only understanding the issues threatening Virginians’ access to affordable healthcare, but focused on fixing them.”

Spanberger was also joined by Virginians for whom healthcare and prescription drug costs are a pressing concern. These Virginians spoke about Spanberger’s work in Congress to lower prescription drug costs — and how as Governor, she will bring her commitment to lowering costs for Virginians to Richmond.

“Because of Medicaid, my daughter can focus on her treatment without having to worry about whether or not she can afford it,” said Aida Pacheco, whose daughter’s breast cancer treatment is covered by Medicaid. “But right now we have Republicans in Congress who are proposing cuts to Medicaid — cuts that mean people like my daughter could lose one of the most important tools they have in their battle against cancer. And I’m thankful to have someone like the Congresswoman who is willing to stand up and fight for Virginians.”

“We need a leader who will work to make sure no one has to worry about paying tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket for their necessary medication,” said Irvin “Irv” Varkonyi, whose prescription drug costs were capped by the Inflation Reduction Act. “That’s why I’m grateful to have someone like Congresswoman Spanberger who has a record of lowering prescription drug costs. I would know — she voted for the legislation that cut the cost of my prescriptions.”

As Governor of Virginia, Spanberger will focus on lowering healthcare and prescription drug costs for Virginia families and seniors — and the key priorities she outlined today include:

• Lowering costs by cracking down on the middlemen — pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) — responsible for inflating the cost of prescription drugs.
• Allowing more Virginians to use the pharmacy of their choice.
• Combatting the skyrocketing cost of drugs and improving access to affordable medication.
• Making sure Virginians get the care they need and deserve.
• Improving access to affordable healthcare options in Virginia’s rural and underserved communities.
• Improving hospital price transparency.
• Stopping predatory billing practices harming Virginians.
• Holding scammers accountable for ripping off Virginians.

Click here for a one pager outlining Spanberger’s policy proposals.

BACKGROUND

Spanberger has a proven record of lowering costs for Virginia families and seniors. During her three terms in Congress, Spanberger helped lead the charge to give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices and save taxpayers billions of dollars in the process.

Spanberger also voted to cap insulin copays at $35 per month for seniors on Medicare and cap out-of-pocket drug costs for Virginia seniors. Additionally, President Trump signed into law Spanberger’s effort to make it harder for pharmaceutical industry middlemen — PBMs — to rip off consumers.

Spanberger announced her campaign to serve as the 75th Governor of Virginia in November 2023.