WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger is being recognized as the third-highest ranking elected official in the country in the latest Common Ground Scorecard for her strong record of bipartisanship in the U.S. House, her commitment to conversations across the political spectrum, and her work as part of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

Spanberger is the highest-ranking Democrat among U.S. House Members, U.S. Senators, and U.S. governors in the Common Ground Committee’s new Common Ground Scorecard. In recognition of her high score, she received the Common Ground Committee’s “Champion” award.

“Partisanship is getting in the way of solutions to the very real issues facing our nation, but many lawmakers are working together to make progress,” said Erik Olsen, Co-Founder of Common Ground Committee. “There is a hunger among Americans to see their representatives work together. We hope that more lawmakers follow Congresswoman Spanberger’s lead and make a commitment to finding common ground.”

“Especially in this moment of nationwide uncertainty, we need to work with Members of both parties to contain COVID-19, protect our neighbors, rebuild our economy, and make sure our children have the opportunity to succeed. Since arriving in the U.S. House, I’ve worked in a bipartisan way on a wide array of historically tough issues — ranging from immigration reform to the renegotiation of NAFTA, because this focus on policy — not politics — is what the people of Central Virginia expect from their elected officials,” said Spanberger. “I’m proud to receive this recognition from the Common Ground Committee, and I thank them for their commitment to improved public discourse, stronger civic engagement, and legislative progress. Our current malaise of national division can be healed, and I’ll keep fighting to make sure all Central Virginians feel that their voice is heard.”

According to the Common Ground Committee, the Common Ground Scorecard measures the degree to which U.S. elected officials embody the spirit and practice of a Common Grounder — someone who seeks points of agreement and solutions on policy issues through listening and productive conversation. The scorecard does not assess issue positions or ideology. Click here to see their ranking of top elected officials, and click here to read the scoring methodology.

The Common Ground Committee also takes into account an elected official’s score in the Lugar Center/McCourt School Bipartisan Index. Earlier this year, Spanberger was ranked by the Lugar Center and the McCourt School as one of the top five most bipartisan Democrats in the U.S. House and the most bipartisan Member of the Virginia delegation.

Spanberger has been widely recognized for her work to build coalitions with her colleagues across the aisle and advancing legislation on behalf of the people of Virginia’s Seventh District. In June 2020, Spanberger received the first-ever “Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship” from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Last week, Spanberger joined her fellow Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus — comprised of 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans — to unveil the caucus’ “March to Common Ground” framework to help break the gridlock on the latest COVID-19 relief package.

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