Abigail Spanberger wins, makes history as Virginia’s first female governor

Democrat Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in Virginia’s gubernatorial race Tuesday, becoming the state’s first female governor and delivering a major win for Democrats ahead of midterm elections next year.

The momentum didn’t stop there as Democrats celebrated the night’s results as a rebuke of President Trump.

State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi prevailed over Republican John Reid in the lieutenant governor’s race, making history as the first Muslim woman elected to statewide office in the nation.

Democrat Jay Jones overcame a damaging texting scandal and defeated incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares.

The party also looked set to expand its majority in the House of Delegates.

Democrats would gain complete control of Richmond, positioning them to shape the state’s legislative agenda — and perhaps its congressional districts — in the coming years.

“We sent a message to the whole world that in 2025, Virginia chose pragmatism over partisanship,” Ms. Spanberger told her supporters at her election night party in Richmond. “We chose our commonwealth over chaos.”

“You all chose leadership that will focus relentlessly on what matters most, lowering costs, keeping our communities safe and strengthening our economy, for every Virginian,” the 46-year-old said.

Ms. Spanberger urged Congress to end the government shutdown and vowed to defend abortion rights. She pushed back against turmoil coming out of Washington that is creating “economic uncertainty for tens of thousands of families.”

She also targeted Mr. Trump and his allies in Washington.

“To those across the Potomac who are attacking our jobs and our economy, I will not stand by silently while you attack Virginia’s workers,” she said.

Ms. Spanberger was declared the winner shortly after polls closed at 7 p.m. With 81% of the vote counted, she led Ms. Earle-Sears by a margin of 56.2% to 44.6%.

Preliminary exit polls showed Ms. Spanberger performed strongly among women, independents, suburban voters and federal employees — a group particularly affected by the ongoing government shutdown. In addition to her service in the House, she is a former CIA operations officer.

The same polls also indicated that President Trump’s approval rating remains underwater with Virginia voters, potentially contributing to the Republican’s loss.

It all proved to be too much for Republicans to overcome.

The attorney general’s race drew extra attention after reports surfaced that Mr. Jones sent a disturbing 2022 text to a Republican colleague, fantasizing about shooting then-Republican Speaker Todd Gilbert.

With 81% of the votes in, Mr. Jones had a 51.6 % to 48% lead over Mr. Miyares, who openly courted Spanberger supporters in the hope that split-ticket voting could put him over the top.

Meanwhile, Ms. Hashmi was declared the winner in the lieutenant governor’s race.

Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, said the Virginia results marked a “resounding rejection of the self-serving and corrupt Trump establishment.”

“It’s time for Republicans to cherish their short time in power because Democrats are going to keep winning, and we have a vision for this country that’s a lot bigger than building a ballroom,” Mr. Martin said.

Ms. Earle-Sears had hoped to become the first Black woman elected governor in any U.S. state.

She vowed to expand upon the legacy of term-limited Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin by pursuing polices to create jobs and foster a business-friendly agenda.

The former Marine mechanic went all-in on transgender issues. She criticized Ms. Spanberger’s support for a bill in Congress that prevented biological men who identify as women from being denied access to shared public facilities, including restrooms, locker rooms and dressing rooms.

She called on Ms. Spanberger to show authentic leadership by demanding that Mr. Jones drop out of the race.

Heading into election night, polls showed that Ms. Earle-Sears, a proud conservative, would need a last-minute miracle to overcome months of polling that showed her trailing in the race.

She also faced headwinds from Washington, known as the “Virginia curse” — a trend in which the party of the newly elected president historically struggles in Virginia’s gubernatorial race.

Mr. Trump, who did not campaign with Ms. Earle-Sears, lost Virginia in three straight presidential races. Preliminary exit polls Tuesday showed 56% of voters disapproved of his performance, compared with 41% who approved.

Meanwhile, Ms. Spanberger effectively capitalized on voter dissatisfaction with Mr. Trump and the economic uncertainty stemming from his policies. She aligned her message with the broader political headwinds emanating from Washington.

She positioned herself as a pragmatic leader. She denounced the president’s tariffs, cuts to future health care spending, and reductions to the federal workforce that have affected many of the roughly 140,000 government employees living in Virginia.

The message resonated with voters in Northern Virginia, who said Ms. Spanberger seemed willing to work across party lines. They described her as a competent voice in a chaotic time.

Her supporters cited her support for abortion rights and their dismay with Washington during the shutdown. They cast the election as a referendum on Mr. Trump and the nation’s negative trajectory.

Leah Heath, a real estate agent, said it was the first time she has voted for a straight Democratic ticket.

“It was kind of an obvious choice, if you ask me,” Ms. Heath said. “You’re kind of for or against the current administration.”

It was a familiar sentiment.

“We need to get as many Democrats as possible to undo the damage from the current administration,” said a retired 79-year-old voter who declined to give her name.