It is finally official. Today, January 17, 2026, Abigail Spanberger is being sworn in as the 75th Governor of Virginia. She’s making history as the first woman to ever hold the job in the Commonwealth. If you’ve been following the candidates for governor of VA over the last year, you know this wasn't exactly a quiet ride. It was a landslide, honestly.
Spanberger, a former CIA officer and U.S. Representative, beat out Republican Winsome Earle-Sears by a massive 15-point margin this past November. To put that in perspective, it’s the biggest win for a Democrat in a Virginia governor’s race since the early 1960s. People are calling it a "blue wave," but it’s a bit more complicated than just party lines.
The Showdown Between Spanberger and Earle-Sears
For the first time in Virginia’s long history, both major party nominees were women. On one side, you had Spanberger, who basically ran on a "fix the costs" platform. On the other, you had Winsome Earle-Sears, the sitting Lieutenant Governor. Earle-Sears is a Marine veteran and was the first Black woman elected to statewide office in Virginia back in 2021.
How the Primary Field Cleared Out
Early on, it looked like we might have a crowded field. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney was in the mix for the Democrats, but he eventually dropped out to run for Lieutenant Governor (a race he also ended up losing in the primary). On the Republican side, Attorney General Jason Miyares was the big name everyone expected to jump in. He decided to pass on the governor’s mansion and tried to keep his current job instead.
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Because of those exits, both parties actually canceled their June 2025 primaries. There just wasn't anyone left to challenge the frontrunners.
What Actually Decided the Election?
Honestly, it came down to the "kitchen table" stuff. Spanberger leaned hard into her "Affordable Virginia Agenda." She talked about the price of eggs, the cost of rent, and the surging energy bills hitting families in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.
Earle-Sears took a different path. She focused heavily on "parental rights" and social issues, specifically transgender policies in schools. While that fired up the base, it didn't seem to land with the moderate suburban voters in places like Chesterfield or Loudoun County.
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The Federal Factor
You can't talk about this race without mentioning the federal government. Since Virginia is right next door to D.C., the mass layoffs and restructuring at the federal level under the Trump administration were a huge deal. Spanberger campaigned on protecting the 320,000+ federal employees living in the state.
Earle-Sears was in a tough spot there. She supported the federal efficiency initiatives, which Spanberger used as a hammer, claiming Earle-Sears was fine with Virginians losing their livelihoods. During their televised debate at Norfolk State University in October, things got pretty heated. Spanberger accused Earle-Sears of supporting discrimination; Earle-Sears shot back that Spanberger was "politicizing" necessary government reforms.
The Issues That Sticked
If you look at the exit polls, three things kept voters up at night:
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- Housing Costs: Rent is skyrocketing. Spanberger has already proposed a "revolving loan fund" to help developers build mixed-income housing.
- Reproductive Rights: This was massive. Earle-Sears had previously supported a 15-week abortion ban. Spanberger used that to paint her as too extreme for a state that has trended purple-to-blue.
- The "Car Tax": Both candidates actually agreed on this one—sort of. Both wanted to kill the widely hated vehicle property tax, though they disagreed on how to pay for the budget hole it would leave behind.
What Happens Now?
Spanberger isn't wasting any time. Her transition team, led by folks like former Richmond delegate Daun Hester and Chris Lu, has been cranking away since November. She’s already named her cabinet, including Marvin Figueroa for Health and Human Resources and Jessica Looman for Labor.
Her first 100 days are going to be a sprint. She’s pushing a package of 15+ bills through the General Assembly—which, luckily for her, is also controlled by Democrats now. They’re looking at energy storage targets to lower peak electricity prices and new protections for renters facing eviction.
Actionable Steps for Virginians
If you want to keep tabs on how the new administration affects your wallet or your community, here is what you should do:
- Track the Affordable Virginia Agenda: Watch the General Assembly session that just kicked off. Key bills on energy caps and housing grants are hitting the floor this week.
- Check Local Property Tax Changes: With the governor-elect pushing to eliminate the car tax, keep an eye on your local county board meetings. If the state cuts that tax, localities might look to make up the revenue elsewhere.
- Sign up for Town Halls: Spanberger has promised a "coalition-building" approach. Use the official Governor's office portal to find regional meetings where you can voice concerns about federal job cuts or healthcare premiums.
The 2025 race proved that Virginia voters are currently more worried about their bank accounts than culture wars. Whether Spanberger can actually move the needle on affordability is the big question for 2026.