Spanberger will be first-ever woman to serve as Virginia’s governor

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Former U.S. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D) will be the first-ever woman to serve as Virginia's governor, according to the Associated Press.

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Virginians took to the ballot box and chose Spanberger as their next governor. As of 8:02 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, she has 54.9% of the vote, leading her Republican opponent -- current Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears -- by a 10-point margin.

Spanberger, who served as the U.S. Representative for Virginia's District 7 from 2015 until 2025, was the only Democrat to file to run in this year's gubernatorial race. Political analysts have described her as a "favorite" from the start, with her consistently polling ahead of Earle-Sears.

Even in loss, Earle-Sears made history as the first-ever Black woman to be chosen as the Republican Party's nominee for Virginia governor. Previously, she was the first Black woman to serve as Virginia's lieutenant governor and the second woman of any race to hold a statewide office.

One-on-One with Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor

This reporting is based on preliminary election results from the AP. All election results are unofficial until certified by Virginia’s State Board of Elections.

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