The candidates took shots at one other, but it was the audience at a congressional debate that proved the most unruly Wednesday night.
Some supporters of the hopefuls in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District argued audibly outside before the event at the University of Mary Washington’s Dodd Auditorium, and the acrimony continued inside once the debate began.
The backers came to cheer on their men, Republican Derrick Anderson and Democrat Eugene Vindman, who are locked in a tight race to succeed Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger in the 7th District, which includes the Fredericksburg area.
Anderson and Vindman are both Army veterans and lawyers who worked in the Trump White House. But they have little else in common, and they sparred on issues including the economy, the controversial Project 2025 and other matters specific to the campaign.
On the economy, Anderson said a third of Virginians are living paycheck to paycheck. He also claimed that the average family in the Old Dominion is spending about $1,100 more a month under what he termed “Bidenomics.”
“Look, folks, right now, we’re seeing the economy’s just not working for folks,” he said, adding that government spending needs to be lessened.
Vindman said that business monopolies need to be prevented, and that policies such as the one that caps the price of insulin at $35 be continued.
“That’s a huge first step in making life more affordable for the average American, average citizen,” he said. “We need to expand that across the board.”
Vindman also tried to connect Anderson to Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for remaking the federal government. He said voters across the district are nervous about the potential and want no part of it.
“You know how you prevent Project 2025 from being included? Don’t vote for my opponent. He’s bankrolled by MAGA extremists, and they want a return on their investment,” Vindman said, noting the abbreviation that stands for “Make America Great Again,” a slogan associated with former President Donald Trump.
Anderson, however, resisted the connection to Project 2025.
“That’s not my plan,” Anderson said. “I didn’t know about it until my opponent continued to talk about it over and over again.”
The candidates also clashed on two matters specific to the campaign. Anderson claims that Vindman is lying about his military service record.
“I can tell you that my opponent has lied not only about things about me, but he’s lied about his own military service,” Anderson said.
Vindman, meanwhile, said Anderson was wrong on this point. He also mentioned a recent New York Times story that insinuated Anderson was posing with a “fake family” in campaign material to falsely appear as if he was a family man, something that Anderson denies.
“If you are going to lie about something as fundamental as your family, you’re going to try to portray yourself as a family man so people like you, how can you be trusted on more serious topics?” Vindman asked.
Anderson, however, contends the image in question was from campaign “B roll” footage and has never been used by the campaign or others.
UMW Professor of Political Science Stephen Farnsworth moderated the debate, and he thanked the candidates at the end for not only participating in the event, but also for simply being willing to run for office.
“As we are reminded throughout our conversation here today,” said Farnsworth, “it’s not always sweetness and light when you run for office in politics, and it’s not always a warm crowd that greets you as you offer to serve the public.”
Farnsworth, who also serves as director of UMW’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, was joined by fellow UMW Professor of Political Science Rosalyn Cooperman, who chairs the department; WFVA Radio News Director Ted Schubel; and Jake Womer, The Free Lance-Star’s managing editor, in asking questions of the candidates.
The event was hosted by Mary Washington’s Student Government Association, and co-sponsored by the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, The Free Lance-Star and the League of Women Voters of the Fredericksburg Area.
The 7th District seat will be open because Spanberger decided to run for governor instead of seeking re-election.
