BREAKING NEWS: Abigail Spanberger Makes History as Virginia’s First Female Governor
The Associated Press projects Democrat Abigail Spanberger has won the Virginia governor’s race, defeating Republican Winsome Earle-Sears
The Associated Press projects that Democrat Abigail Spanberger has triumphed over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, flipping control of Virginia’s governorship and becoming the first woman ever to lead the Commonwealth.
Spanberger, a former U.S. congresswoman and ex-CIA officer, secured victory in the blue-leaning state after maintaining consistent advantages in polling, organization, and fundraising throughout her campaign. Her win injects fresh energy into a Democratic Party seeking to rebuild momentum and redefine its strategy following its 2024 electoral setbacks.
Virginia and New Jersey were the first two states to hold gubernatorial contests under President Donald Trump’s second term — making the outcome in Richmond particularly symbolic.
At 47, Spanberger anchored her campaign on kitchen-table priorities — economic stability, affordability, and public safety — while firmly advocating for abortion rights. Her campaign, supported by aligned Democratic groups, consistently highlighted Earle-Sears’ record of conservative stances on social issues and her unwavering loyalty to Trump.
Earle-Sears, 61, found it difficult to establish a clear and unifying message over the course of the race. She leaned heavily on the achievements of outgoing Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin, promising to continue his policies, which she said had strengthened Virginia’s private sector and championed “parents’ rights” in education. In the campaign’s final stretch, she attempted to pivot toward a “commonsense” message — a nod to Youngkin’s winning 2021 strategy — though it failed to resonate broadly.
Despite frequently praising Trump’s leadership and agenda, Earle-Sears never received a formal endorsement from him. The former president appeared at a tele-rally for Republican candidates in Virginia on the eve of the election but notably avoided mentioning her name.
Spanberger, who first gained national recognition in 2018 after flipping a GOP-held congressional district, has long positioned herself as a pragmatic, moderate Democrat. That reputation helped her draw support from an array of prominent national Democrats — including several potential 2028 presidential contenders — who joined her on the trail during the campaign’s closing days to reinforce her anti-Trump message.
Even with her strong position, Spanberger faced a series of late-breaking challenges that threatened to complicate her path to victory. Among them: a federal government shutdown that began on October 1, the controversy surrounding violent text messages sent by Jay Jones — the Democratic nominee for attorney general appearing on the same ballot — and a last-minute redistricting proposal advanced by Virginia Democrats.
Throughout her campaign, Spanberger seized on the shutdown as evidence of dysfunction in Washington under Trump’s leadership. She criticized Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency for its efforts to shrink the federal workforce and argued that the shutdown once again demonstrated the “chaos” of GOP control — a situation particularly damaging to Virginia, home to tens of thousands of federal employees.
The Jones text message scandal proved more troublesome. Messages sent in 2022 showed Jones suggesting that a top Republican lawmaker should be shot in the head, sparking bipartisan outrage and demands for his withdrawal from the race. Spanberger swiftly condemned the remarks but stopped short of asking Jones to step aside or rescinding her endorsement, a stance that Republicans relentlessly exploited in campaign ads — including several from Earle-Sears that spotlighted Spanberger’s refusal to directly address the issue during their only debate.
Earle-Sears also attacked Spanberger repeatedly over gender and sports policies, reviving Republican talking points from the 2024 presidential election about transgender participation in youth athletics and the use of school facilities. Spanberger responded by insisting that such decisions should be left to parents, educators, and local administrators rather than dictated from the governor’s office — an answer that tactfully avoided deepening internal Democratic divisions over the issue.
In the final week before Election Day, Virginia Democrats added another unexpected twist by launching a controversial redistricting effort to reshape congressional boundaries ahead of the 2026 midterms. While the move stirred political noise, it did little to change the fundamental trajectory of the gubernatorial race. Earle-Sears, in her role as lieutenant governor and presiding officer of the state Senate, was briefly called back to Richmond during the closing days of her campaign — a distraction that underscored the race’s chaotic finish.
Historical trends also tilted in Spanberger’s favor. In 11 of the last 12 Virginia gubernatorial elections, voters have chosen a candidate from the party not holding the White House. That pattern, combined with Spanberger’s disciplined campaign and message discipline, proved decisive in delivering Democrats one of their most significant state-level victories in recent years.
With her groundbreaking win, Abigail Spanberger not only makes history as Virginia’s first female governor but also reasserts Democrats’ relevance in a pivotal swing state — and signals that her brand of pragmatic leadership may define the party’s path forward in the post-Trump era.
A Victory for Women — and a Call to Keep Building
Abigail Spanberger’s victory isn’t just a win for one candidate — it’s a defining moment for women everywhere who dare to lead, to serve, and to change what leadership looks like in America.
At The Women Post, we believe victories like this prove that when women rise, the world moves forward. But this progress doesn’t sustain itself — it depends on all of us standing together, amplifying women’s voices, and ensuring their stories reach every corner of the nation.
If you believe in women’s leadership, in truth, and in the power of change — join us.
Upgrade to our annual plan today at 40% off, and help us keep fighting for a world where women lead boldly and unapologetically.
Folke winsome earle sears is an impostor! she's beyond a disgrace to the black brown latino asian LGBTQIA + and the rest of the American people!! this is great news I'm glad that Abigail Spanberger won and that now she's the first female Governor of the state of Virginia. I hope and pray this spreads nationwide because it's time for a Blue Tsunami. So We the People all are saying Blue Tsunami let's turn America back to Blue again."
Hurrah! It could be that felonpotus's stark hatred of women of color stopped his endorsement of Earle Sears, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway. Most people are sick of Republican lies, gaslighting, and incompetence. So glad for Spanberger's win!