Infrastructure and housing prices have become a large concern for voters over the years. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) and Abigail Spanberger (D), candidates for governor, have different approaches to housing concerns. Both candidates have made plans to reduce red tape in construction and housing development which involves removing unnecessary processes and regulations that slow down the building process.
Data from Redfin has shown that the statewide median home price was up 2.7% since Sept. 2025, while the unemployment rate is expected to rise to 4.1% by the end of the year.
Creating a strong and detailed plan as governor can influence the outcome of a state’s economic success. Each candidate running in Virginia’s 2025 gubernatorial election has expressed their ideas for housing and infrastructure throughout Virginia.
On their campaign website, both candidates have outlined what their plans are for housing and infrastructure including building more starter and smaller homes for first time homeowners.
Her goal is for all Virginia residents to become homeowners, by making housing more attainable for all Virginians. Her campaign site outlines this goal, stating “Working with anyone, Democratic or Republican, to make sure more Virginians can afford their dream of buying a home in the Commonwealth.”
Spanberger plans to address the rise in homelessness and evictions by reestablishing an Interagency Council on Homelessness and Housing to drive down both rates in Virginia and investing in programs such as the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)Virginia Eviction Reduction Pilot (VERP) that protect vulnerable Virginians. These programs also aid seniors and individuals who have experienced mental health crises or have substance use disorders.
Spanberger also plans to prevent discrimination in housing by prioritizing the Virginia Fair Housing Office to enforce anti-discrimination laws. Similarly, Republican Candidate Earle-Sears, wishes to strengthen the Fair Housing Act.
Earle-Sears has expressed that she aims to cut the cost of living by lowering taxes, cutting wasteful spending and removing harmful regulations. She plans to advocate for both rural and urban areas when finding solutions to housing concerns.
Her campaign website advocates for reducing the cost of living and includes broader ideas on infrastructure. However, she has no public housing plan on her platform, nor has she stated any official housing plan through any news reports or in the gubernatorial debate, and she has declined to respond to these reports on housing policies.
However, Earle-Sears has cited her partnership with current Governor Youngkin on policies, such as tax relief and job creation.
“She will fight more common-sense tax cuts that help all Virginians,” her campaign website states.
Earle-Sears has promoted eliminating Virginia’s car tax as a helpful way to reduce living expenses.
Although both candidates have outlined their housing policy plans, Spanberger has defined her policies in more detail in comparison to Earle-Sears.
