Today, each gubernatorial candidate will speak at the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Economic Summit in Williamsburg. If the past holds true, Ed Gillespie, Corey Stewart, Rob Wittman, and Frank Wagner will do what they've always done: insult Virginians' economic progress and ignore positive indicators.

Earlier in the day, Lt. Governor Northam highlighted positive economic progress and also discussed the importance of Virginia being open and welcoming by standing strong against anti-LGBT measures that hurt the economy and have sent businesses running away from North Carolina. None of the Republican gubernatorial candidates have said if they would veto anti-LGBT legislation.

Governor McAuliffe and Democrats have made strong economic progress for Virginians - see for yourself:

• Virginia's job creation is strong and the labor force is growing. The Washington Post noted: "One difference in Virginia is that job creation has been strong. The state’s economic engine of Northern Virginia has been adding jobs at a faster rate than the nation as a whole, a 2 percent growth rate compared to this time last year." - Washington Post, 11/25/2016
• Virginians are feeling optimistic about the economy. "Between September and October, 27,000 new job-seekers stepped back into the Virginia economy, by far the largest month-over-month increase in the size of the labor force since the survey began in 1976, according to seasonally-adjusted government data released last week." - Washington Post, 11/25/2016
• Other positive indicators: 
• 4.2 percent unemployment rate (inherited a 5.4 unemployment rate from a GOP governor)
• 182,100 jobs created
• 31 straight months of job growth
• Rated top 5 for labor supply and regulatory environment by Forbes

• Under Governor McAuliffe, Virginia is welcoming and inclusive with leadership who protects women's access to healthcare and LGBT equality
  • The Ronaoke Times endorsed Pat McCroy for sending jobs to Virginia from North Carolina after HB2.

Meanwhile, Republican gubernatorial candidates continue Donald Trump's 'Doom and Gloom' approach by bashing Virginia's economic progress rather than offering substantive plans:

• In May, the Roanoke Times Editorial Board called out Nikki Haley and Ed Gillespie for stretching the truth on Virginia's economy. Notably, Haley claimed that Virginia's economy has taken a "nose-dive" under Governor McAuliffe - a claim that was fully debunked in the article.