Who are Spanberger’s cabinet picks? What we know so far
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — With less than three weeks until Virginia swears in its first female governor, Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D) is close to finalizing her administration team.
Spanberger is set to take office as the Commonwealth's 75th governor on Jan. 17, 2026, at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.
Spanberger began filling her cabinet earlier this month with the first appointment of the secretary of health and human resources, Marvin Figueroa. She has announced nine other appointments since.
Per a transition portal launched by the governor's office in November, there are 13 secretariat positions with Spanberger's administration team. Four of her appointments to date are either from the Richmond area or have ties to the region.
Keep scrolling to learn about each of the governor-elect's picks and what we know so far.
Secretary of administration: Traci DeShazor
Traci J. Deshazor. (Photo: Office of the Governor-Elect)
Traci DeShazor previously served as Richmond's deputy chief administrative officer for its human services department. She has years of experience across municipal, state and federal government.
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Per the governor-elect's office, DeShazor launched several city-level efforts to help those experiencing homelessness and hardships as a Richmond official. While serving as deputy secretary under former governor Ralph Northam, she supervised a handful of divisions servicing over 2,000 Virginians weekly.
The secretary of administration will oversee "critical functions" in the Commonwealth, like ensuring Virginians can vote, among other state government priorities.
Secretary of agriculture and forestry: Katie Frazier
Katie Frazier. (Photo: Virginia Farm Bureau)
Katie Frazier has worked at both the state and federal levels to support the growth of Virginia's agriculture and forestry industries. She has experience in soil and water conservation, market and economic development, agricultural research and more.
Frazier has served as the chief brand officer for the Farm Credit of the Virginias since 2018, per the governor-elect's office. She previously served as the executive director of the Richmond-based nonprofit Virginia Agribusiness Council.
The secretary of agriculture and forestry will work to grow and protect the Commonwealth's number-one private industry, Spanberger said in a statement.
Secretary of finance: Del. Mark Sickles
Del. Mark Sickles. (Photo: Amanda Maglione/Virginia General Assembly.)
Del. Mark Sickles (D-Fairfax) has served in the Virginia House of Delegates for more than two decades. He has represented House District 17 in Northern Virginia since 2004.
Sickles is the current chair of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), which authorizes reports and analyses of state agencies on behalf of the Virginia General Assembly.
The secretary of finance will work to strengthen the Commonwealth's long-term economic strength, safeguard taxpayer dollars and address challenges facing Virginia communities, per Spanberger's office.
Secretary of health and human resources: Marvin Figueroa
Marvin Figueroa. (Photo: 8News)
Marvin Figueroa previously served as deputy secretary of health and human resources under Northam. He is currently vice president of the consultant firm BGR Group.
He also previously served as health policy advisor to Virginia Sen. Mark Warner (D) and later served as a chief of staff in the U.S. Senate.
Per Spanberger's office, the secretary of health and human resources oversees 12 state agencies and "supports some of the most vulnerable communities across our Commonwealth," including children, senior citizens and Virginians with disabilities.
Secretary of labor: Jessica Looman
Jessica Looman. (Photo: U.S. Department of Labor)
Jessica Looman was previously appointed by former President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. She led the federal labor standards enforcement agency from 2021 to 2025.
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Looman previously served as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce and deputy commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.
The secretary of labor will oversee workforce training programs and work to create jobs across the Commonwealth.
Secretary of natural and historic resources: Del. David Bulova
Del. David Bulova. (Photo: Office of the Governor-Elect)
Del. David Bulova (D-Fairfax) has extensive experience in environmental planning. He is currently a project manager for the consulting firm WSP USA.
Bulova was elected to represent House District 11, which covers the city of Fairfax and parts of Fairfax County, in 2005. He has held many leadership positions in the Virginia House of Delegates, including chair of the General Laws committee and the Chesapeake subcommittee of the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources committee.
The secretary of natural and historic resources will work to strengthen Virginia's conservation, resilience and preservation efforts.
Secretary of public safety and homeland security: Stanley Meador
Stanley Meador. (Photo: Office of the Governor-Elect)
Stanley Meador has nearly three decades of experience in law enforcement and national security, including positions at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He received a Virginia "Declaration of Valor" for responding to the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, and was awarded the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police "President's Award" in 2023.
Previously head of the FBI Richmond, Meador was one of multiple veteran agents removed from their positions after they "ran afoul of conservatives." He was in charge of the Richmond office in 2023, when two analysts wrote a controversial memo about a subset of Catholics.
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The Republican Party of Virginia has criticized Spanberger for picking Meador as Virginia's next secretary of public safety and homeland security.
In this position, Meador will work to protect Virginians and ensure safety within the Commonwealth.
Secretary of transportation: Nick Donohue
Nick Donohue. (Photo: Office of the Governor-Elect)
Nick Donohue is a Richmond native and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) graduate who founded the company Transportation and Infrastructure Strategies, LLC. He has advised public and private sector clients on a broad range of transportation issues.
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Donohue has served in senior leadership positions under three Virginia governors. He previously served as the deputy secretary of transportation under both Northam and former governor Terry McAuliffe.
The secretary of transportation will tackle Virginia's transit challenges and improve transportation infrastructure, per the governor-elect's office.
Secretary of veterans and defense affairs: Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams
Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams. (Photo: Office of the Governor-Elect)
Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams retired in 2023 after 38 years in the U.S. Army. He was the former agency head for the Virginia Department of Military Affairs and previously led the Virginia National Guard to support the Commonwealth's COVID-19 response during the pandemic.
Since his retirement, Williams has been the advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau (NGB) on Intergovernmental Affairs.
The secretary of veterans and defense affairs will work to support Virginia's veterans and service members, including those transitioning out of active duty.
Secretary of the Commonwealth: Del. Candi Mundon King
Del. Candi Mundon King. (Photo: Office of the Governor-Elect)
Del. Candi Mundon King (D-Prince William) is the current chair of the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns. She represents House District 23, which covers parts of Prince William and Stafford Counties.
King is the founder of the Sickle Cell Caucus and the Black Maternal Health Caucus. She has over two decades of experience in advocacy programs in education, public safety, economic development and social justice, per the governor-elect's office.
The secretary of the commonwealth will work to "get results for the people of Virginia," including in several different capacities, like a liaison to 11 state-recognized Indian tribes. Some of the other responsibilities include constituent services, document authentications and as keeper of the state seal.
As of the time of reporting, Spanberger has three secretary positions left to fill: the secretaries of commerce and trade, education and independent agencies.
