Tag Archive for: Arlington

Virginia Democrat’s Lead Erodes Amid Familiar Mistake On Gender Ideology

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The Democratic candidate in Virginia’s 2025 gubernatorial election is watching her lead erode amid a familiar clash that led to a Republican victory in the 2021 race.

With less than three months until Election Day, Virginia’s off-year gubernatorial race is becoming increasingly competitive, as Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears closes the gap with her opponent, former Democratic Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger.

A Roanoke College poll released Tuesday shows Sears trailing Spanberger by seven points. In comparison, a previous poll from May had Spanberger leading by 17 points in the 2025 governor’s race.

As public polls show the race tightening, Sears told the Daily Caller in an exclusive interview that she always believed the contest to be winnable.

“Our polling showed that we were much closer and even my opponent said that this was a toss-up race, but the mainstream media would not believe her because they want her to win,” Sears said.

But Sears now has extra momentum thanks to a renewed debate over gender ideology in schools — an issue that was pivotal in Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin’s 2021 victory. Questions about how schools should handle transgender students and how much say parents should have in the public education system are once again emerging as a central focus in the final stretch of the 2025 race.

The discussion was reignited after America First Legal (AFL) sent a letter in July to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Education (DOE), urging an investigation into five Virginia school districts for allegedly failing to protect girls’ facilities.

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) is also once again in the spotlight for punishing a group of boys who objected to a biological girl who identifies as transgender entering their locker room and allegedly recording them. Two of the three boys who complained have been suspended.

Sears has been outspoken about the suspension of the boys and the five Northern Virginia districts that are accused of violating Title IX. The lieutenant governor attended an Arlington County School Board meeting on Thursday to hammer the issue.

“It’s dangerous, it’s insane, and it has to stop,” she said, addressing the school board. “Here’s the truth: there are two sexes, boys and girls.”

“It is interesting to me that we have these five Northern Virginia school boards who are willing to risk not millions but hundreds of millions of dollars for their ideology,” Sears later said in an interview with WUSA9.

Spanberger, meanwhile, has not offered much substance in response to the issue. ABC 7News sent a list of questions to Spanberger’s campaign in early August in an attempt to clarify where she stands on school bathroom, locker room and sports policies.

“Abigail is a mom of three kids in Virginia public schools — the safety of Virginia’s kids is Abigail’s top priority, and she believes that parents have the right to make decisions about what is best for their children,” the Democrat’s campaign said in reply.

Spanberger also accused Sears of backing the Trump administration’s “threats to strip funding from Virginia schools” but did not directly address concerns about the Virginia schools’ alleged Title IX violations.

The fight over gender ideology and the tightening race is reminiscent of similar conditions during the 2021 gubernatorial race between Youngkin and former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe.

Youngkin’s campaign capitalized on McAuliffe’s stance against parental involvement in schools, which ultimately shifted momentum in the blue state. Youngkin spent the early part of his campaign meeting with parents’ groups concerned about Covid school closures, transgender bathroom policies, boys in girls’ sports and DEI curricula. When the opponents met for a debate in late September, McAuliffe declared, “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.” The statement became central to campaign ads from Youngkin’s team.

A Republican strategist involved in Virginia’s 2025 elections affirmed to the Daily Caller that the current dynamics in the gubernatorial race echo what happened in the 2021 gubernatorial election — but with trends developing possibly even earlier than four years ago.

“The dynamic that’s playing out now is very similar to what played out in 2021, where you had a very potent issue pop at the final stretch of this election. I think you’ll just continue to see the polls close as Winsome really stands out from Abigail Stanberger as someone with conviction, courage and common sense priorities on the stuff that’s so important to people,” the strategist explained.

Matthew Hurtt, chair of the Arlington GOP, pointed to the importance of Republicans eating into Democratic strongholds in Virginia’s traditionally bluer northern regions. Taking advantage of cross-party issues like gender ideology and parental rights in schools could accomplish that goal, as was shown in 2021.

“Arlington was 10% of Governor Youngkin’s victory margin in 2021. That is to say, the difference in the votes from 2020 to 2021, it was about a 6,000 vote difference. That’s what I’m focused on, being just one part of Northern Virginia,” Hurtt said. “We don’t have to win it — it’s unlikely that we would win Northern Virginia in a statewide election — but we just have to reduce those margins.”

Sears’s appearance at the Arlington School Board meeting last week made the gender ideology issue even more salient, as a Democratic activist went viral for holding up a sign racially targeting Sears, who would be the nation’s first female black governor if elected.

“Hey Winsome, if the trans can’t share your bathroom then blacks can’t share my bathroom,” the sign said.

Sears said that although she is now a public figure, she has never gotten used to “racist language” from her opponents.

“You never get used to seeing racist symbols, racist language, but I’m an adult and so I can brush it off. But this is not about me, this is about the young child who will see this and wonder why is this happening in a new century,” she reflected.

Spanberger condemned the sign as “racist and abhorrent,” but a top Virginia Democrats official accused Sears of stoking the racial attack, writing, “What happened in Arlington wasn’t just about a meeting. It was about the climate Winsome Sears is creating, one where contempt is currency and neighbors are turned against each other.”

Ian Prior, the former Executive Director of Fight for Schools and a prominent activist who helped push Youngkin over the finish line in 2021, argued that Democrats in Northern Virginia are again alienating voters by pushing radical gender policies in schools — and by relying on personal attacks like the one employed by the Democratic activist on Thursday.

“Northern Virginia’s school systems are once again using children as pawns in their subservience to the idea that men can be women and women can be men,” Prior told the Caller. “Now their outside allied activists are threatening to return to Jim Crow laws if grown men aren’t allowed to change in front of young children in girls’ locker rooms and restrooms.”

“This issue has become electoral poison for the left, yet it looks like they are so captured by their radical base that they are willing to set their chances on fire again this November,” he asserted.

The Republican strategist noted that Youngkin also trailed McAuliffe in public polls throughout the summer and fall of 2021, but the race grew increasingly close as they got closer to Election Day.

“Just naturally, a lot of these polling organizations are from pretty disreputable sources. Obviously, you can get the nitty-gritty of how they actually conduct polls, but I think the energy felt on the ground — especially towards the fall of Governor Youngkin’s win — was really palpable,” the strategist explained.

Hurtt said that although the singular Roanoke College poll is not necessarily instructive, “a string of polls tells a story.”

“Nobody is paying attention to a gubernatorial election in March and April. I think the lightning strike event of Tuesday and Thursday in Loudon and Arlington, respectively, is the point where people begin to clue in,” Hurtt told the Caller.

Sears also highlighted the significant increase in fundraising for her campaign and suggested her willingness to take a public stance on key ideological issues sets her apart from Spanberger and entices donors and voters to stand with her.

“People want to donate to people who they believe in and they see something, I think, in me that says I am going to do the right thing. I am going to ensure that the policies that we’ve already begun will continue,” Sears said.

“I’ve raised in this last quarter $6 million,” Sears said. “I have raised more money in the second quarter of the campaign than any Republican ever has, including my wonderful Governor Youngkin — and he will tell you that. People like what we’ve done and they want it to continue.”

Hurtt similarly said that the Arlington GOP’s August fundraising effort is shaping up to be their strongest yet, calling it the single best fundraising month “probably in a generation.”

The Caller contacted the DOJ and the DOE to confirm whether a referral had been made for the five Northern Virginia counties for Title IX violations, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

AUTHOR

Ashley Brasfield

Reporter

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EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Caller column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

Inside Mosques: Arlington, Texas and Tampa, Florida

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INSIDE MOSQUES

INVESTIGATING AND EVALUATING THREAT LEVELS

INTRODUCTION:

Dave Gaubatz is a former U.S. Federal Agent with Top Secret/SCI clearance, expert in counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism on national security issues, highly trained in Islamic ideology and tactics, Arab linguist, author of Muslim Mafia, has investigated over 300 mosques/Islamic Centers in the USA and 150 outside USA, and after leaving his position in the government continued this work as a Civilian Agent. Using firsthand investigation, he then evaluates Risk/Threat Levels based on multiple factors including Materials on Premises and What They Advocate, Ties to Muslim Terrorists, and Sharia Adherence. Mr. Gaubatz estimates that 80% of mosques in America recruit and train in jihad (violent & civilization). Finally, he makes Recommendations to protect America, our citizens, our children. He asks about each mosque: Would ISIS be proud?

NOTE: Several Reports/Affidavits will be published. When you read one from earlier dates, note that Dave Gaubatz issued Risk/Danger warnings ahead, but in some cases, violence occurred later from a member of one of those reported mosques (ex: Trolley Square, Salt Lake City, Utah shooting; child abuse Nashville, TN). When you read a report that came after an attack (Ex: Report 2017, Boston Marathon Bombing by the Tsarnaev brothers in 2013), note that violence had already occurred, Mr. Gaubatz reported continued Risk/Danger years later from the same mosques terrorists had attended.  Reading professionally investigated and evaluated Reports/Affidavits from various years is important so the American public is aware of new or continuing Risk/Danger and can demand protection from all levels of government officials and law enforcement that they are sworn to provide.

Significant Incident Report #3 (SIR)

Location: Arlington, TX (TX17) and Tampa Florida

Date of Significant Incident: 28 Dec 2007 — 17 Jan 2008

Synopsis: During the above period Field Researcher (FR) met with four Imams from TX#17. FR spent several days with the Imams to include some in Arlington, TX, Austin, TX, and Tampa, FL. In addition FR had numerous telephone conversations with the Imams. FR also had the opportunity to meet with many worshippers and Imams from the areas they traveled to.

FR opines based on the below information and his continuous interaction with the Imams that he considers them to be dangerous. Since they are leading Islamic scholars and many worshippers follow the advice they are given, it is likely the worshippers will follow the violent Wahhabi ideology of the Imams.

Listed below are some of the significant events during this time period:

  • There are four Imams at TX#17. Jordan and Palestine.
  • “Osama” Imam from Jordan, informed FR he should not accept any gifts from Shia, Christian, or Jewish people because it is haram.
  • Osama said it is normally haram (illegal) to commit suicide bombings like it is being done in Iraq, but the /Iraqi situation is a gray area. The Iraqi people are being killed, and it is justified to explode yourself, because you are defending yourself.
  • Imam Mohammad Shakib and Shaykh Hassan are the primary fundraisers for TX17.
  • Imam Shakib subsequently introduced an administrative assistant at TX17. The man had a long beard and is from Jordan (according to both the imam and the man)
  • The Jordanian (Imam in Texas) told FR he is originally from Jordan and he had a very close relationship with Tarik Aziz (close friend of Saddam Hussein and former Deputy Prime Minister from 1979 — 2003). The Jordanian further informed FR that Tarik Aziz (before 2003) would often travel to Jordan from Iraq. When Aziz would come to Jordan he would always visit him at his home. FR opines it is likely the Jordanian had other ties to senior Baath Party members.
  • FR advised the Imams collected money from many worshippers in Arlington, TX, Austin, TX, and Tampa, FL. Most of the time the money was provided in cash. The worshippers would not provide checks, but subsequently Shaykh Mohammad would tell them he knows “Ghassan” and has his contact information.
  • FR was invited to the homes of the Imams, travel to Austin, TX, and for a 3 day visit in Tampa, FL. The purpose of the trip was for fundraising for the mosque, but FR opines based on his discussions with the Imams that money was being used for other purposes. The Imams themselves would argue amongst themselves.
  • A Florida Imam (Ibriham Aboamer, from Egypt) was observed by FR as having a book, “Down to the United States.” He also had a collection of Siraj Wahhaj CDs. When the Imam saw FR looking at the book, he hid it in his desk drawer.
  • A man “named” Ghassan who is from Jordan or Palestine, was mentioned by the Imams. They advised he is either wanted or been questioned by the FBI for terrorism related charges. The Imams were evasive about Ghassan. They did state Ghassan had traveled from mosque to mosque in various states hiding from authorities. He had been an Imam in Chicago, IL.

Director Gaubatz comments: Concur with reporting to law enforcement. The individuals mentioned above are highly likely to be involved in supporting terrorist organizations and it is probable they are linked to additional “sleeper cell” activity.

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EDITORS NOTE: This Jihad Watch column is republished with permission. © All rights reserved.