CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Emphasizing the opportunity that Virginia has to reject the policies of the Trump administration at the ballot box through its statewide elections this year, Democratic nominee for governor Abigail Spanberger told a packed Jefferson Theater on Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall, “We know the stakes of this election and we know what we are for.”

Spanberger was joined by former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and science educator and television personality Bill Nye, along with local officials, speaking to an announced crowd of 1,300.

Speaking at a podium with a blue and white “Virginia votes” sign affixed to it, Spanberger focused her remarks on her plans for lowering costs for Virginia families, strengthening public schools, growing the Commonwealth’s economy and protecting reproductive rights.

Behind her on stage were a group of about 100 college-age people on two sets of risers, holding blue and white “vote” signs.

Spanberger called out what she labeled “catastrophic attacks on our healthcare,” the negative impacts of Trump’s tariffs, and the firing of federal workers, first by the Department of Government Efficiency and then during the federal shutdown.

“We need a governor who will stand up against them,” Spanberger said.

Buttigieg emphasized Spanberger’s track record of bipartisanship, something he said he saw firsthand while he was the Secretary of Transportation and she was a member of Congress.

“This is what the mainstream actually looks like,” Buttigieg said.

Buttigieg also worked to harness the strong anti-Trump sentiment in and around Charlottesville, criticizing individual cabinet members including Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth, Sec. of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Sec. of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Buttigieg pointed to the nationwide No Kings protests over the weekend and UVA’s decision not to sign onto Trump’s higher education compact.

“A freedom-loving people does not stand for this and we are prepared to prove it,” Buttigieg said.

Nye also praised Spanberger’s bipartisanship and commented on the perception that Spanberger isn’t far left enough for some segments of the Democratic party.

“Some may describe her as a moderate,” Nye said. “I describe her as someone who’s paying attention.”

Holding a shrinking, but still substantial lead over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in the most recent polling, Spanberger’s campaign is emphasizing voter turnout.

Starting Saturday, she’ll begin an 11-day, 40-step “Virginia Votes” bus tour. That string of appearances is scheduled to begin Saturday morning in Petersburg.

The tour will bring her back to this area on Tuesday when her itinerary has her visiting both Nelson and Albemarle Counties.

Former President Barack Obama will reportedly appear with her in Norfolk in November.

Neither Spanberger nor Buttigieg spoke to the media after the event.

The Earle-Sears’ campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Spanberger closed out Tuesday night’s event by asking the crowd, “Are you ready to win?”