Democrat Abigail Spanberger was elected governor of Virginia this Tuesday (4), according to a projection by Associated Press.
The victory represents a strong rejection of President Donald Trump, after a campaign in which the former congresswoman focused her attacks on the Republican’s policies.
Spanberger will succeed Republican Glenn Youngkin, who came to power in 2021 riding discontent with the Joe Biden administration.
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Spanberger defeated Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a Trump-aligned conservative Republican.
The Democrat raised almost twice as much money as her opponent and maintained a wide lead in the polls until voting day.
At age 46, Spanberger will be the first woman to take over the governorship of Virginia, breaking a streak of 74 men in the position.
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A former CIA agent and moderate within her party, she promised to “defend Virginia from the chaos coming from Washington” and recover jobs affected by federal cuts implemented during the Trump administration.
His political trajectory was consolidated in the context of Trumpism.
Elected to Congress for the first time in 2018, Spanberger built an image of independence, criticizing Democratic leaders and defending centrist agendas. This stance helped her win support beyond the party’s traditional base.
