Political Analyst: 2026 will be all about Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- 2026 promises to be a transformational year in Virginia politics. 

Larry Sabato, Director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, says 2026 in Virginia politics will be all about Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger. 

“She’s going to be big news, not just in Virginia, but nationally, and there’s gonna be a dramatic change of policy. People are going to be surprised, I think, at just how dramatic the changes are,” Sabato told 8News. 

Sabato said he expects Spanberger to move quickly to try and reverse many of the policies put into place by the current Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin. Sabato added he thinks Spanberger will focus on issues like education and raising the minimum wage. 

“I’ll tell you what she doesn’t have, and that’s a whole lot of patience with a one-four-year term,” Sabato explained. That’s something all governors recognise right away, they either get things done quickly, or they're not going to get things done, and their term won’t mean much.” 

Sabato said with Democrats set to control the governor’s mansion, the Virginia Senate, and House of Delegates in 2026, Republicans should focus on trying to win back the Senate in 2027. 

“So they’ve got to schedule their votes and their positions and the complaints that they make to encourage Republican candidates running for the State Senate in 2027,” Sabato said.

This new era in Virginia politics will begin when Governor-elect Spanberger is sworn in on Jan. 17.