Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger told the Mercury in a recent interview that “nothing is off the table” when it comes to reconciling the differences among federal and state leaders over higher education issues that have boiled over in Virginia this year. The University of Virginia has also come under federal scrutiny for allegedly failing to fully dismantle its DEI program. Democratic leaders in the Virginia Senate have rejected 22 of Gov. Spanberger said she would support efforts to allow universities to hire their own counsel, approved by university boards. She has expressed support for laboratory schools, which operate like charter schools, that are created and operated in partnership with colleges and universities.