Spanberger boasts a Virginia investment. But they weren’t his to brag about

Virginia’s Democratic governor, Abigail Spanberger, has taken credit for billions in economic success under her GOP predecessor, drawing criticism from Republican leaders and their state representatives before she even got there.

Spanberger proposed signing legislation that authorized four separate investments from the aerospace, energy, and pharmaceutical industries earlier this week. The investment, according to a press release from Spanberger’s office, will welcome 3,250 new jobs and $7.1 billion in business investment in the state.

“Since my first day in office, I have been working to create a stable business environment for companies to hire, expand, and continue to invest in our Commonwealth,” Spanberger said in his press release. “I am signing these bills into law so that we can continue to grow Virginia’s economy and create opportunities for Virginians.”

However, Spanberger’s signature was just a formality, as the deals he mentioned were part of Youngkin’s campaign to promote economic development as governor of Virginia, which included a record $156 billion in CEO commitments during his tenure. When he left office, the former GOP governor received more than six gubernatorial administrations combined, according to a press release from Youngkin’s team.

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“You’re trying to take credit for somebody else’s work,” former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares told Fox News Digital. “In elementary school, that’s what we call cheating.”

“The past three months have been heartbreaking news for Virginians as Abigail Spanberger broke one of her campaign promises and now has the lowest approval rating of any Virginia governor this century,” added Youngkin spokesman Justin Discigil. “Governor Youngkin is glad Virginians are being reminded of the good news, even if it means Gov. Spanberger took credit for the economic deals he secured for the Commonwealth.”

Spanberger did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment on the matter.

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Four bills he did not sign, his signature authorizing awards, were announced during Youngkin’s term as governor.

The first, HB 1531, allocates $537 million to aerospace company Avio USA and is expected to create more than 1,500 jobs. The award, according to public reports at the time, was announced in December 2025. The next bill, HB 799, would allocate $457 million and is expected to create more than 825 jobs. The award was announced by Youngkin in September 2025. HB 800, which allocates more than $2 billion to the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and is expected to create more than 450 jobs to produce an active ingredient in advanced cancer, autoimmune and other advanced drugs, was also announced in September 2025. Meanwhile, combining several investments discussed by Spanberger this week into HB 1076, which has invested $4 billion in the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and is expected to create about 500 jobs. That commitment was announced in October 2025.

Abigail Spanberger participates in an important exchange with the departure of Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia before the opening ceremonies at the Capitol in Richmond Va., Saturday Jan. 17, 2026. (Steve Helber/AP)

“Attracting new businesses and jobs to Virginia is at the heart of my administration – and I’m proud of the hundreds of millions of dollars in investment we’ve already announced this year,” Spanberger said in his press release this week announcing the investment in Virginia. “I look forward to continuing to work with legislators, local communities, and business leaders as we make it clear that Virginia is the best state in the nation to grow or start a business.”

In the background section of the press release, the announcement continues to praise Spanberger’s commitment to growing Virginia’s economy.

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“My simple message to Abigail Spanberger is, to quote Elizabeth Warren, ‘You didn’t build that!'” said Sean Kennedy, president of Virginians for Safe Communities. “Spanberger should get credit for his Republican predecessor’s accomplishments in bringing jobs to Virginia because his policies are actually raising taxes, killing jobs, and skyrocketing energy costs. Spanberger should play make believe he’s delivering on his affordability agenda to impress the 2028 Democratic Party bosses. I expect Spanberger to continue to lie.”

Spanberger’s critics questioned his moderate campaign message, as well as his economic plan, which included imposing new taxes on the government even though he campaigned on a message of not being able to afford them.

“Abigail Spanberger’s first 100 days in office have been a disaster when it comes to economic development,” said Miyares, who lost to incumbent Democratic Attorney General Jay Jones in November. Jones called for the assassination of her GOP rival, which ultimately didn’t matter enough to voters as she and Spanberger emerged victorious in November.

“The three pillars of a good business environment are a good tax environment, a good regulatory environment and an environment where – from the point of view of the case – it is not hostile to business. Spanberger has already demonstrated and committed debt fraud that will make Virginia uncompetitive. Virginia is not competing with itself, we are competing with 49 other sates, and Spanberger appears to be abusing its taxes and its taxes.”

Miyares added that he knows many businesses in Virginia that former Governor Youngkin hired and was thinking about expanding in Virginia, but will no longer be able to because of Spanberger’s policies.

He also pointed out that Spanberger “doesn’t believe in excess energy” despite investment in energy infrastructure this week. “I find it funny and kind of sad what he’s trying to do,” Miyares said.

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones (left) defeated former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares in November. Jones won alongside Spanberger who defeated former Lt. Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Gov. Winsome Sears. (Mike Kropf/Richmond Times-Dispatch via pool)

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“Abigail Spanberger received more than $2.7 billion and benefited from thousands of new jobs created under Republican leadership,” the Virginia GOP said in February, responding to headlines about Virginia’s rising unemployment numbers. “He and his Democrat supporters destroyed everything in a matter of weeks while breaking every promise they made about ‘affordability.’