Spanberger wins Virginia governorship, flipping state to Democrats

WASHINGTON

Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia governor’s race Tuesday, beating Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears to flip the state to Democrat and become the first woman to hold the position, according to The Associated Press.

With more than half the votes counted, Spanberger held a substantial lead of over 10% over Earle-Sears, who trailed at under 45%. US President Donald Trump had lost Virginia by six points to then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 race.

The Associated Press called the race at 7.59 pm local time (0059GMT Wednesday).

The result handed Democrats a significant victory ahead of key midterm elections in 2026 as the 46-year-old former lawmaker and CIA official will replace outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin following an economy-focused campaign.

Polls closed and ballot-counting commenced at 7 pm local time (0000GMT) in Virginia, one of the two bellwether states holding an off-year gubernatorial race.

In the other, New Jersey, voting ended an hour later and vote counting continues.

Besides the governor's election, state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi defeated John Reid in the Virginia lieutenant governor’s competition, becoming the first Indian American and first Muslim to win statewide office in Virginia.

'The History Virginia is making tonight'

"The history Virginia is making tonight," said Spanberger.

"We sent a message to the whole world that in 2025, Virginia chose pragmatism over partisanship. We chose our Commonwealth over chaos. You all chose leadership that will focus relentlessly on what matters most," she told supporters in Richmond after Election Day polls closed.

Spanberger said her campaign earned votes from Democrats, Republicans and independents.

"I thank you for the trust that you have placed in me, and it is the honor of my lifetime to be elected the 75th governor," she said.

She later outlined her administration’s plan to strengthen the economy, expand job opportunities, and safeguard reproductive rights, pledging to invest in the state’s workforce and keep politics out of public schools.

“We’re going to grow Virginia’s economy by investing in apprenticeships and job training of the future," Spanberger said. “We’re going to leverage AI and cutting-edge manufacturing to bring more capital investment into our Commonwealth.”

Turning to reproductive rights, Spanberger drew a sharp contrast with other southern states.

"I want to be absolutely clear about a couple of things. First, Virginia is the only state in the South that hasn’t restricted women’s reproductive rights—and under my watch, it will stay that way,” she said.

"In Virginia, health care decisions about contraception, fertility treatments and reproductive care will continue to be made between women and their doctors, not politicians. That’s a promise I’ve made, and a promise I intend to keep."

Closing her remarks, Spanberger reaffirmed her support for the state’s workforce.

“I will always stand up for Virginia workers—always,” she said.