Shaking Up Virginia Politics: A Police Endorsement with Consequence
Not since Barack Obama was first inaugurated has the Virginia Police Benevolent Association (VAPBA) thrown its support behind a Democrat for governor. That changed this year,
as VAPBA—a group representing over 11,000 law enforcement officers statewide—broke ranks with recent tradition and endorsed Rep. Abigail Spanberger in her bid for governor.
Skeptics might shrug off endorsements as empty gestures, but to those who watch state politics closely, VAPBA’s decision signals a profound disquiet within the law enforcement community about the current direction of Virginia’s GOP leadership. Many recall that just one election cycle ago, this same group rallied behind Republican Glenn Youngkin. Now, their pointed shift is impossible to ignore—not only because it marks their first Democratic endorsement since 2009, but because the association simultaneously opted to back Republicans for lieutenant governor and attorney general. The resulting ticket split couldn’t be more illuminating.
What drove VAPBA to break precedent? President Joe Woloszyn points to Spanberger’s record of securing increased funding for local police departments and her instrumental role in shepherding the Social Security Fairness Act. Her federal law enforcement background and pragmatic approach to public safety haven’t gone unnoticed. As Woloszyn put it in a recent statement, Spanberger “understands, firsthand, the sacrifice and challenges faced by our officers, and she is deeply committed to building trust across communities.”
Bipartisan Credentials Versus Partisan Rhetoric
Abigail Spanberger’s moderate, consensus-building style has set her apart—particularly as the national conversation around policing remains highly polarized. Conservative lawmakers have often peddled a simplistic, tough-on-crime narrative, only to fall short when it comes to investing in the day-to-day needs of police on the ground. Spanberger’s advocacy stands out for its results, not rhetoric.
In 2023, Spanberger and Republican colleague Garret Graves received national recognition from the Fraternal Order of Police for championing the Social Security Fairness Act. Their bipartisan effort aims to ensure that retired officers and other public servants collect their full Social Security benefits—a fix for longstanding inequities that disproportionately affect those dependent on modest post-retirement income. These are substantive, material wins, not hollow campaign talking points.
Polls have shown Spanberger’s popularity surging, while Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who had VAPBA’s support in the last cycle, has struggled to rally GOP support and fundraising momentum. Recent data puts Spanberger with a notable financial advantage, boasting more than $15 million cash on hand against Earle-Sears’ $4 million. The power gap reveals more than just the ability to buy airtime—it speaks to enthusiasm, voluntary support, and the confidence of coalition builders on the ground.
“What we see in Spanberger’s campaign is a blueprint for how Democrats can engage law enforcement while advancing reforms, funding, and trust-building. Endorsements like these don’t just follow the political winds—they can change them.”
Republicans may argue that such endorsements are anomalous or motivated purely by internal Democratic politicking. A closer look reveals something deeper: a recognition that law enforcement, especially those on the front lines, are weary of culture-war theatrics and instead want concrete action, partnership, and the tools to serve their communities safely.
Law Enforcement, Public Trust, and the Future of Public Safety
Beyond the horse race, VAPBA’s decision resonates because it speaks to how effective criminal justice policy transcends party lines when lawmakers meet basic needs and communicate honestly with the public. History is littered with examples of failed tough-on-crime crusades—whether it was the zero-tolerance excesses of the 1990s or the persistent underfunding of public safety infrastructure in conservative strongholds today. When political leaders ignore the real-world needs of police and communities in favor of cheap sound bites, both public safety and trust erode.
Joe Woloszyn, whose organization has watched both parties closely for decades, insists that Spanberger “brings expert-level knowledge to the challenges our members face.” These aren’t hollow words; they’re backed up by her track record, from fighting for mental health resources for first responders to advancing common-sense reforms that both protect civil liberties and make police jobs safer. Compare that to her Republican rival, whose campaign, by both national and local accounts, is defined more by ideological loyalty than by substantive engagement with law enforcement’s daily realities.
Nationally, the Democratic Party has wrestled with questions about public safety and criminal justice reform, often caricatured by conservatives as anti-police or soft on crime. Yet, Spanberger’s model defies that narrative: a Democrat with a law enforcement background, a pragmatic approach, and strong, enduring relationships with Virginia’s policing community. It’s precisely this brand of focus on practical solutions over ideology that resonates—not only across party lines among law enforcement, but also, crucially, among voters tired of political theater.
It’s worth noting that the VAPBA’s split ticket approach—backing Spanberger for governor but Republicans for the other two statewide offices—reflects a discerning, non-dogmatic attitude. They are endorsing candidates not by party label, but by track record and credibility.
In the end, this moment could mark a quietly pivotal turning point in Virginia politics. The old script that equates law enforcement support with Republican fealty is being rewritten in real time, by officers themselves. When pragmatic, expert-driven, and genuinely bipartisan leadership steps forward, the public’s safety—and democracy—are the winners.
