Former CIA officer Abigail Spanberger is a first-time Democratic candidate in Virginia who aims to challenge Republican Rep. Dave Brat for his congressional seat.
She decided to run for office after the House voted to replace Obamacare without waiting on a score from the Congressional Budget Office, the Washington Examiner reported.
Spanberger aims to work across the aisle, while Brat has become a staunch ally of President Donald Trump.
"For me it's about changing the conversation and really working to make sure that even if one side the rhetoric and anger is really intense, that we're not volleying back with the same anger and intensity," Spanberger said, according to the Examiner.
Spanberger rarely alludes to Trump and focuses on showing voters that Brat's district can be flipped from Republican to Democrat.
However, she may be facing an uphill battle, because Republicans have held the district since the 1970s, the Examiner reported.
She faces candidate Dan Ward in the June primary for the Democratic nomination.
According to the Examiner, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., said that both are "impressive" candidates, but "it's a good year for Democratic women."
Many constituents were attracted to Spanberger because of her CIA career, while others said they only became engaged politically after the 2016 presidential election.
In May, Spanberger launched her first TV ad.
"Too many Washington politicians serve special interests — or themselves… in Congress, I'll bridge divides, find solutions, and put people first, which is why I won't take money from corporate PACs," Spanberger said in the ad.
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