By Allyn Tucker
Boston University News Service
Abigail Spanberger, former Virginia congresswoman, defeated Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears on Tuesday to become Virginia’s first female governor in history. Spanberger’s victory was projected less than an hour after polls closed in Virginia.
“My fellow Virginians, tonight we sent a message. We sent a message to every corner of the Commonwealth, a message to our neighbors and our fellow Americans across the country,” Spanberger said Tuesday night following her victory. “In 2025, Virginia chose pragmatism over partisanship.”
Spanberger went on to thank Earle-Sears for a hard fought race, showing appreciation for her background of service and sending best wishes to Earle-Sears and her family.
The election results aligned with pre-election polling. Entering election day, this week’s most recent polls projected Spanberger to defeat Earle-Sears. As of November 3, Research Co. projected Spanberger’s victory by an eight point margin, while Trafalgar Group projected the same result by a seven point margin.
With the nation’s second-largest federal workforce in the nation – trailing only California – the stability of the federal workforce and employment rate is a critical issue for Virginia voters, according to The Guardian. Federal firings led to Virginia’s unemployment rate increasing for seven consecutive months, reaching 3.6% in September. Spanberger campaigned to stand up for the thousands of workers laid off or affected by the government shutdown, especially zeroing in on those living in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.
“We need a governor who will support the thousands upon thousands of Virginia families whose livelihoods have been disrupted or destroyed because of DOGE and now this government shutdown,” she said in Norfolk, Virginia on Nov. 1.
Spanberger was joined by Former President Barack Obama during her Nov. 1 rally, earning his endorsement along with Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.).
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from a dual-degree program between Purdue University and the GISMA business school in Germany, Spanberger served as a case officer for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for over eight years.
Spanberger eventually became the first democrat elected to Virginia’s Seventh District in the U.S. House in over 50 years, also becoming the first woman to serve the district. She served six years in Congress, where she was the primary sponsor on 20 bills signed into law.
