Viral photo shows newly elected congresswoman's daughter playing at her feet during victory speech: 'So real. So human. So great!'
It must be pretty exciting when your mom is elected to Congress — just ask 4-year-old Catherine Spanberger, the daughter of Abigail Spanberger, the Democrat who unseated Republican incumbent Dave Brat to take Virginia’s Seventh Congressional District seat.
A spectator with a unique view of the congresswoman’s victory speech tweeted a photo on Wednesday of Catherine playing at her mom’s feet behind the podium as Spanberger addressed the crowd — and social media users are smitten.
The strength of a woman is simply miraculous!!! Congresswoman Elect Abigail Spanberger rocking motherhood while giving her victory speech! pic.twitter.com/BU4bcHx3UC
— Ramla Toor (@RT_1972) November 8, 2018
One person wrote, “The strength of a woman is simply miraculous!!! Congresswoman Elect Abigail Spanberger rocking motherhood while giving her victory speech!” Another said, “Love, love, love this. Mom power.”
Classic Bob Brown shot from the @SpanbergerVA07 victory speech pic.twitter.com/DhK9UxhyNa
— Graham Moomaw (@gmoomaw) November 7, 2018
A second Twitter user’s version of the sweet shot drew similar reactions, with commenters saying, “This picture is everything!” and “That’s what great working moms do!” Another person poignantly put it, “I love the way our culture is changing. The way many women get things done may look a little different than we have seen in the past.”
Video of Spanberger’s speech shows the emotional politician being received by a roaring crowd while her husband, Adam, and their three daughters follow her onto the stage. At one point, only two of the children can be seen standing proudly behind their mother, as Catherine had already made her way to the podium to hide at Mom’s feet.
Prior to winning the election, Spanberger, 39, worked as a CIA operative and served on the Virginia Governor’s Fair Housing Board. She campaigned in all 10 of the Seventh District’s counties in 10 days in hopes of ousting her opponent, who won the seat in the House of Representatives four years ago in a shocking upset of his own.
But keen observers will remember that Monday’s acceptance speech was not the first time little Catherine stole the spotlight from her politician parent. In June, the little girl joined her sisters onstage in matching outfits as Spanberger accepted her Democratic nomination. Instead of standing politely to the side like the other girls, the preschooler hopped and danced around the stage while her mom spoke to a cheering crowd. At one point, the tot decided she needed a break and casually sat on the floor as her mother continued her impassioned speech.
Spanberger’s balance of high-profile career and motherhood has been part of her appeal all along, according to political pundits. She’s done everything from busting drug traffickers as a federal postal inspector to leading a Girl Scout troop for her daughters, according to the Washington Post.
The congresswoman’s speech ended on Monday with Spanberger expertly splitting her attention between the adoring crowd and her adorable daughter by giving the girl the attention she craved, picking her up and holding her while delivering the rest of her speech. As one commenter wrote, “So real. So human. So great!”
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