Virginians scrolling through Facebook may stumble across a slick page called “Commonwealth Courier.” With its state-map logo and tagline promising to provide “political news to Virginians across the Commonwealth,” it looks like a local news source. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find it’s no newsroom at all — it’s Abigail Spanberger’s campaign arm in disguise.
Meta’s ad library shows that “Spanberger for Governor is responsible for this Page.” In other words, the “Courier” is nothing more than a branded campaign mouthpiece dressed up to look like journalism. The scheme has been highly effective: since launching, Spanberger’s faux-news outlet has pushed at least 13 active ads, generating 8 million impressions on Virginians’ feeds. Spending on those ads is estimated between $79,300 and $104,600.
The tactic is clear — fool casual readers into thinking a neutral outlet is reporting on Spanberger’s campaign stops and education message, when in fact it’s her own staff writing the copy. Ads don’t disclose “Commonwealth Courier” as the buyer; they list “Spanberger for Governor” directly. It’s partisan propaganda wearing a press pass.
This strategy comes at a time when Virginia’s gubernatorial race is sharpening. Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is running to continue Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s legacy, while Spanberger leans into warnings about Trump-era federal layoffs and talking points on education. But on cultural flashpoints — like whether bathrooms and locker rooms should be open to biological males identifying as transgender — Spanberger refuses to give straight answers.
🚨VIRGINIANS BEWARE
Fake Moderate Abigail Spanberger is now trying to pass off campaign propaganda as legitimate news.
Spanberger staffers made a fake news account on Facebook to try to trick Virginians.
This shameful deception is just the latest act of desperation from a… pic.twitter.com/W3M5q3vhWk
— Virginia GOP (@VA_GOP) September 5, 2025
Her record, however, speaks loudly. She voted for the so-called Equality Act, which would mandate opening private facilities on the basis of gender identity. She’s also endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s most aggressive LGBTQ lobby. Meanwhile, Earle-Sears has stood by Loudoun County students punished under Title IX for objecting to a girl entering their boys’ locker room — a flashpoint Spanberger avoids at all costs.
The controversy has already produced ugly attacks. When a protester compared Earle-Sears’ stance to racial segregation, Spanberger condemned the remark but stopped short of holding her own party accountable for smearing her opponent.
As for “Commonwealth Courier,” Spanberger’s campaign won’t explain why it masquerades as a news site. The trick seems designed to prey on voters who still trust the authority of “local news” — at a time when Democrats know their credibility is crumbling.
It’s worth noting that the “Courier” brand may have been chosen for a reason. It evokes Courier Newsroom, a network of left-wing “news” pages that already run disguised Democratic content in swing states. Spanberger’s page insists it’s not affiliated, but the resemblance is hard to miss.
