Virginia elects Democrat Abigail Spanberger as state’s first woman governor

November 5, 2025

Abigail Spanberger, a 46-year-old former CIA operative and three-term congresswoman, has been projected to win Virginia's gubernatorial race, becoming the state's first female governor. She defeated Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears by campaigning on economic concerns, opposing Trump administration policies, and rejecting culture war politics in education debates. The Democratic sweep of all three statewide offices in Virginia signals significant voter discontent with the Trump administration and provides Democrats with a potential strategy for upcoming midterm elections.

Who is affected

Abigail Spanberger (projected governor-elect)
Virginia voters and residents
Winsome Earle-Sears (defeated Republican candidate)
Women and girls in Virginia, particularly young women and girls who see representation
Federal workers and contractors fired by the Trump administration
Businesses impacted by tariffs
Spanberger's three daughters
Transgender students in Virginia schools
Democrats and Republicans competing in Virginia statewide races
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (referenced as winning New Jersey governor's race with similar messaging)
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (term-limited Republican governor)
Mary Sue Terry (first woman elected to statewide office in Virginia)

What action is being taken

Spanberger is promising to fight the "chaos" of President Donald Trump's second term
She is promising to stem the rising cost of living
She is promising to take culture war debates out of conversations about improving public education
Democrats are sweeping all three statewide offices away from Republicans
Spanberger is focusing her attacks on the impact of Republican policies on the cost of food and health care, businesses hit by tariffs, and federal workers and contractors

Why it matters

This election is historically significant as it makes Virginia the first time a woman will serve as the state's governor, breaking a barrier in one of only 18 states that has never had a female governor. The results demonstrate substantial voter discontent one year into Trump's second term and provide Democrats with evidence that focusing on economic anxieties, affordability issues, and practical policy solutions rather than culture wars or personality politics can succeed in competitive races. The Democratic sweep of all statewide offices in Virginia offers a potential roadmap for how the party might approach the 2026 midterm elections, particularly through messaging centered on cost-of-living concerns that resonated with voters across different demographics.

What's next

Spanberger indicated that her campaign approach—focused on affordability and cost-of-living issues—could serve as a guide for Democrats running in 2026. She expressed hope that the ways she and similar candidates like Mikie Sherrill discussed solutions would provide "an exciting possibility for people across the rest of the country who might be running in 2026."

Read full article from source: The 19th