FILE - Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., speaks during an interview at Libbie Mill Library in Henrico County, Va., Nov. 25, 2024, after she announced she will run for Virginia governor. (AP Photo/Ryan M. Kelly)
She is the first woman to be elected governor in Virginia’s history.
Democrat Abigail Spanberger is projected to win the Virginia governor’s race on Tuesday night. The race was called by DecisionDeskHQ at 7:19 p.m.
As of shortly before 10 p.m., unofficial results show Spanberger winning 56.2% of the vote compared with 43.6% for her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, with 85% of the vote reported.
Spanberger’s victory makes her the first woman to be elected governor in Virginia’s history.
Her victory was widely anticipated as she had a wide lead in the polls heading into Election Day, raised more money than Earle-Sears, and seemed to have Democratic voter enthusiasm on her side in the final days of the campaign.
Spanberger, a former CIA officer and US House representative, ran a campaign based on making Virginia a more affordable place to live and on the promise she would fight back against Trump administration policies hurting Virginians.
Democrats had a historical advantage heading into Election Day: whichever party loses in the presidential election, as Democrats did in 2024, typically goes on to win the statewide races in the following year.
Spanberger will succeed Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
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