On September 15, 2025, more than 938,500 disabled Virginians, representing 15.1% of the state’s electorate, had their voices heard as candidates for statewide offices faced questions and listened to personal accounts on disability issues during the 2025 Statewide Candidate Forum on Disability Issues. The forum was hosted by REV UP Virginia, The Arc of Virginia, The Arc of Northern Virginia, and the Autism Society of Northern Virginia.
Candidates for Governor Winsome Earle-Sears and Abigail Spanberger, candidates for Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi and John Reid, and candidates for Attorney General Jay Jones and Jason Miyares joined the 90-minute virtual Forum to discuss Medicaid services in Virginia, jobs, transportation, accessibility, employment, and other pressing issues on the minds of the state’s disability community.
The non-partisan, sensory-friendly Forum was one of seven events held for Disability Voting Rights Week (September 8-12) around the Commonwealth.
A full recording of the Forum is available at https://youtu.be/x5JKcrJbQV8.
Read more in a press release about the 2025 Statewide Candidate Forum on Disability Issues.
Media coverage after the candidate forum:
- Virginia statewide candidates address three key issues for voters with disabilities (News 6 Richmond)
- ‘Big, beautiful bill’ fallout: At forum, Spanberger and Earle-Sears clash over Medicaid (Virginia Mercury)
- Virginia’s statewide candidates weigh in on disability issues (WVTF and Radio IQ)
- Spanberger, Earle-Sears clash over Medicaid at statewide disability forum (The Virginian-Pilot)
- Virginia statewide candidates clash over disability rights, 15% of electorate at stake (ABC 7 News)
- Candidates participate in forum focusing on disability issues (Fairfax County Times)
- Virginia’s statewide candidates weigh in on disability issues (WHRO and Radio IQ)
- Virginia gubernatorial candidates discuss Medicaid, other issues at forum (Smith Mountain Eagle)
- Statewide candidates pledge to help people with disabilities (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Media coverage before the forum:
