Political Analyst on VA Governor’s Race: “Spanberger is the favorite”

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) - The 2025 Virginia Gubernatorial Election is officially set. 

Current Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears has secured the Republican nomination, while former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger has locked down the Democratic nomination.

Both Sears and Spanberger were the only candidates in each party to turn in the required number of signatures to appear on the June primary ballot, making them the nominees by default. 

“I think both Spanberger and Sears have to be happy that there is no primary challenge," Randolph-Macon Political Science Professor Rich Meagher told 8News. "It gives them a chance to concentrate on each other, defining themselves against each other and not having to deal with their really weaknesses within their own party.”

Meagher added that with their opponents now decided, both candidates can begin to address the issues they think will matter most to Virginians. 

“Republicans on what we might call cultural issues, certainly education, trans rights, and how those intersect with education," said Meagher. "For Democrats, it will be their bread and butter, reproductive rights and gun violence, as well as I think this sort of specter of what Trump is doing in Washington more broadly.” 

As for which candidate is more likely to win.

“If the national picture resembles something like it is today, where Trump is pursuing his policies, you know polls be damned, then I think we have to still say that Spanberger is the favorite,” said Meagher. 

At this time, it’s still unclear who Sears and Spanberger will be running with on their respective tickets. 

Democrats will have a primary to decide who their nominee for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General will be, while Republicans will have a primary for Lieutenant Governor.

The Republican Party of Virginia has announced incumbent Jason Miyares will be the Republican nominee for Attorney General.