DEMOCRAT ABIGAIL SPANBERGER HAS WON THE GOVERNOR’S RACE IN VIRGINIA, DEFEATING REPUBLICAN WINSOME EARLE-SEARS. 

 

SHE BECOMES THE STATE’S FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR.

 

SPANBERGER WILL SUCCEED REPUBLICAN GOV. GLENN YOUNGKIN, WHO IS NOT ALLOWED TO RUN FOR A SECOND CONSECUTIVE TERM.

 

HER VICTORY ALIGNS WITH RECENT VOTING PATTERNS IN VIRGINIA, WHICH PICKS ITS GOVERNORS THE YEAR AFTER A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND TENDS TO ELECT SOMEONE OF THE OPPOSITE PARTY OF THE PRESIDENT. 

 

SPANBERGER, A FORMER CASE OFFICER WITH THE CIA, FLIPPED A U.S. HOUSE SEAT IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA IN 2018 AND RETIRED FROM CONGRESS IN 2024 TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.