Former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, who represented a swing district in the U.S. House for six years, is set to become the next governor of Virginia after riding an anti-Trump wave into office on Tuesday. Spanberger is projected to defeat her opponent, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, by more than 10 points. This would mark the best performance for a Democrat in a Virginia gubernatorial election since 1985.
Spanberger initially flipped a Republican House seat to the Democrats in the 2018 wave midterm election and held onto the seat until she retired in 2024 to run for governor. Throughout the gubernatorial race, she emphasized her national security background as a former CIA officer, affordability issues, and federal employment cuts enacted during President Trump’s administration.
NBC News, Decision Desk HQ, and State Navigate all called the gubernatorial race for Spanberger less than one hour after polls closed. She will also make history as the first woman to hold the office of governor in Virginia.
Observers never doubted Spanberger’s ability to win, especially considering President Trump lost Virginia by six points in the 2024 election—despite winning both the Electoral College and the national popular vote that same night. Trump’s policies have disproportionately affected Virginia’s population and economy, making it difficult for Republicans to close their deficit in statewide elections this year.
Virginia ranks among the states with the highest populations of federal employees, with over 147,000 individuals employed by the federal government as of September 2024. Only California surpasses Virginia in this category, with 150,000 federal employees. However, California’s population is more than four times that of Virginia, underscoring the significant federal presence in the Commonwealth.
Although no official figures have been released regarding federal job cuts in Virginia specifically, President Trump’s administration is likely responsible for tens of thousands of job losses this past year. This is attributed to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficient Cuts and various layoffs during the government shutdown.
Trump’s influence visibly weighed on Virginia Republicans. According to one exit poll, Trump’s approval rating in the state stands at just 41 percent, with 56 percent of respondents disapproving of his job performance.
Spanberger’s victory signals a significant shift in Virginia politics and reflects broader voter sentiment in the state heading into the future.
https://www.nysun.com/article/spanberger-wins-virginia-gubernatorial-election-by-wide-margin-recapturing-governors-mansion-for-democrats
