Virginia: In a landmark political upset ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Democrat Abigail Spanberger has made history by becoming Virginia’s first woman governor, defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in a tightly contested race that ends Glenn Youngkin’s four-year Republican rule.
The victory is being seen as a major setback for President Donald Trump, marking the first significant electoral blow to the GOP since his return to the White House in 2024.
Addressing a jubilant crowd of supporters in Richmond, Spanberger said, “We sent a message to every corner of the Commonwealth — a message to our neighbors, our fellow Americans, and to the world — that in 2025, Virginia chose pragmatism over partisanship.”
She added with confidence, “I cannot wait to get to work for you.”
Abigail Spanberger just made history as Virginia’s first woman governor—defeating MAGA-backed Winsome Sears. Her win is a clear rejection of far-right chaos and a major victory for pragmatism and democracy. pic.twitter.com/nWPGnINNQy
— Free Citizens (@free_citizens1) November 5, 2025
Tuesday’s state and local elections were the first major test of public sentiment since Trump’s re-election. Millions of Americans cast their ballots, signaling growing voter fatigue over partisan gridlock and the ongoing federal government shutdown, now among the longest in U.S. history.
In her victory speech, Spanberger called on President Trump and lawmakers in Washington to end the shutdown and focus on governance, saying, “Virginians — and all Americans who work tirelessly for their fellow citizens — deserve nothing less.”
Who is Abigail Spanberger?
Born in 1979, Spanberger is a former CIA officer and served as the U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District from 2019 to 2025. Known for her moderate, pragmatic approach and bipartisan appeal, she often emphasized competence and cooperation over political combat — qualities that helped her flip a Republican-held state for the first time in years.
With her victory, Spanberger not only breaks Virginia’s centuries-old gender barrier but also delivers a symbolic rebuke to the Trump-led Republican establishment, reshaping the political map ahead of the crucial 2026 midterms.
