Spanberger’s actions mimic ‘a progressive Democrat’: Byron York

Published February 9, 2026 2:52pm ET



Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York compared Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).

York said Spanberger campaigned in the Virginia gubernatorial race on a centrist platform, being “portrayed in the media every day as a moderate.” Her 15% margin of victory in November comes as “progressives and moderates” within the Democratic Party battle for control, with lawmakers like Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) representing the former group.

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