On November 4, 2025, Virginia made history by electing Abigail Spanberger as its first female governor, marking a pivotal moment not only for the commonwealth but for the national political landscape as well. Spanberger, a Democrat and former congresswoman, triumphed over Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears in a race closely watched by both parties as a bellwether ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The Associated Press called the race about an hour after polls closed, with Spanberger securing 54.5% of the vote to Earle-Sears’ 45.3%, according to WTOP.
Spanberger’s victory is significant on multiple fronts. She will succeed outgoing Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin, flipping partisan control of the governor’s office and providing a morale boost to Democrats as they look to regain ground in statehouses and in Washington. In her victory speech in Richmond, Spanberger addressed supporters with a message that resonated far beyond Virginia’s borders: “We sent a message to every corner of the commonwealth, a message to our neighbors and our fellow Americans across the country,” she said. “We sent a message to the whole world that in 2025, Virginia chose pragmatism over partisanship. We chose our commonwealth over chaos.”
The historic nature of the race was all the more striking because neither Spanberger nor Earle-Sears made gender a central theme of their campaigns. Nevertheless, the outcome was not lost on voters and observers. Monica Lucus, a Richmond resident, told WTOP, “This is history, the first woman governor in Virginia, and the right person to do the job. I think it’s time for a change, and this is a burst of energy that the country needs, not just Virginia but the country.”
Spanberger, 46, brings a formidable résumé to the governor’s mansion. Before entering politics, she served as a CIA case officer and worked in federal law enforcement, following in the footsteps of her parents—her mother a nurse, her father in law enforcement. She first gained national attention in 2018 by unseating Republican Dave Brat in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, and she served in Congress from 2019 until early 2025. Her time in Washington was marked by a reputation for bipartisanship, focusing on issues like broadband access for rural areas and services for veterans.
Throughout her gubernatorial campaign, Spanberger emphasized economic issues and the everyday struggles of Virginians. She ran on a message of affordability and protecting the state from the impacts of President Donald Trump’s cuts to the federal workforce. As reported by The Hill, Spanberger’s disciplined campaign avoided divisive rhetoric, instead focusing on pragmatic solutions and touting her background in intelligence and law enforcement. In her closing ad, she declared, “I followed my parents into public service. My mom was a nurse, my dad worked in federal law enforcement, and I did too—going after drug rings and child abusers, and then at CIA, terrorists.”
Spanberger’s approach was notable for its moderation. She campaigned vigorously across the state, including in Republican-leaning areas, and made carefully crafted arguments against Trump’s policies—particularly those affecting Virginia’s large population of federal employees. She also underscored her support for abortion rights, a key issue in the last Southern state that has not enacted new restrictions or bans on the procedure. This strategy helped her consolidate Democratic support while attracting swing voters who had previously backed Youngkin, according to the Associated Press.
Republicans, meanwhile, must now reckon with a high-profile loss in a battleground state. Earle-Sears, 61, who would have been the first Black woman governor in U.S. history if elected, ran on issues such as reducing the cost of living and addressing cultural debates around transgender students in schools. Despite her efforts, she was unable to overcome Spanberger’s commanding lead, which polls showed was consistent throughout the campaign, even as the attorney general race tightened following a late-breaking scandal.
That controversy erupted in October 2025 when texts from Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones surfaced, in which he spoke of shooting then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert. Spanberger swiftly condemned the texts and expressed her “disgust” with Jones, but stopped short of calling for his withdrawal from the race. Republicans, including Trump and Earle-Sears, seized on the scandal to attack the Democratic ticket, but Spanberger managed to maintain her distance from Jones and kept her focus on her own campaign. During the lone debate, she stated, “I have denounced political violence, political rhetoric, no matter who is leading the charge.”
The significance of the 2025 election extended beyond the governor’s mansion. Democrat Ghazala F. Hashmi won the lieutenant governor’s race, becoming the first Muslim woman to hold statewide office in the United States and the first Indian American elected to statewide office in Virginia. Hashmi prevailed over Republican John Reid with 53.1% of the vote, as reported by the Associated Press. Her win, alongside Spanberger’s, marked a night of historic firsts for Virginia and the nation.
Voter turnout was robust, with record numbers casting early ballots in a nonpresidential election year, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. In Fairfax County alone, more than 130,000 people voted early in person, and in Loudoun County, 45.5% of registered voters participated. This surge in participation reflected the high stakes of the race, which many viewed as a referendum on both Trump-era policies and the future direction of the state.
Spanberger’s win also continued a longstanding Virginia tradition: since 1976, the state has chosen a governor from the opposite party of every first-term president in the following year—though this year’s contest was unique due to the gap between Trump’s terms. With all 100 seats in the House of Delegates up for grabs and Democrats holding the state Senate, Spanberger could benefit from a friendly legislature if her party maintains its majority, potentially enabling her to advance key policy priorities that had previously been blocked by Republican vetoes.
Looking ahead, Spanberger faces a challenging environment. Economic projections are tightening, utility costs are rising, and unemployment is growing, in part due to federal contraction under the Trump administration. Yet her background in public service and bipartisan cooperation may serve her well as she navigates these hurdles. The outcome of the Virginia election will undoubtedly shape strategies for both parties as the nation heads toward the 2026 midterms, with Democrats touting Spanberger’s victory as evidence that a moderate, pragmatic approach can win in competitive states.
For now, Abigail Spanberger’s election stands as a testament to the evolving political landscape of Virginia and the country—a moment of change, resilience, and new possibilities for leadership in the commonwealth.
