If you’re looking for the date of the next big showdown in Richmond, you might have noticed the yard signs have finally come down. The most recent governor's race in Virginia wrapped up on November 4, 2025. It was a massive deal, honestly. Not just because of the usual political bickering, but because Virginia has this quirk where governors can’t serve two terms in a row.
Because Glenn Youngkin couldn’t run again, the seat was wide open. It basically turned into a historic "first" no matter who won.
When is the governor's race in Virginia usually held?
Virginia is a bit of an oddball. Along with New Jersey, it’s one of the only states that holds its big elections in "off-off" years—the year right after a Presidential election. People call it a bellwether because it sort of tells the rest of the country how voters are feeling before the midterms hit.
The last election day was November 4, 2025.
If you missed that one, you’re going to be waiting a while. The governor serves a four-year term. That means the next time you'll see a governor's race in Virginia on your ballot will be in November 2029.
🔗 Read more: When Does Joe Biden's Term End: What Actually Happened
A Quick Look at the 2025 Results
The 2025 race was pretty dramatic. Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and U.S. Representative, went up against Winsome Earle-Sears, who was the sitting Lieutenant Governor. It was the first time in the state's history that both major candidates were women.
Spanberger ended up winning with roughly 57% of the vote. It wasn't even that close in the end, with Earle-Sears pulling in about 42%.
Why Virginia’s Election Schedule is So Weird
You might wonder why we don’t just vote for Governor when we vote for President. It would certainly save some money on stickers and poll workers.
It actually goes back to the state constitution. The framers wanted to keep state issues separate from national ones. They didn't want a popular (or unpopular) President to just sweep a Governor into office on their coattails.
💡 You might also like: Fire in Idyllwild California: What Most People Get Wrong
The 1-Term Limit
Virginia is also the only state in the U.S. that strictly forbids consecutive terms. You can be governor twice, just not twice in a row. For example, Mills Godwin did it back in the day, and Terry McAuliffe tried to do it in 2021 but lost to Youngkin.
This rule makes every single race a "lame duck" situation for the incumbent from day one. It sort of keeps the power shifting constantly.
Key Dates You Need to Know for Future Cycles
Even though the governor’s seat is filled for now, Virginia elections never really stop. We have local races, House of Delegates seats, and special elections almost every year.
If you're planning for the next cycle, here’s how the timeline usually shakes out:
📖 Related: Who Is More Likely to Win the Election 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
- The Filing Deadline: Usually in early April. This is when candidates have to officially say "I'm in" and submit thousands of signatures.
- The Primary: Generally held on the third Tuesday in June. Interestingly, in 2025, the primary was actually canceled because nobody challenged Spanberger or Earle-Sears within their own parties.
- Early Voting: This starts roughly 45 days before the general election. Virginians love early voting—it’s basically a month-long holiday at this point.
- General Election: The Tuesday after the first Monday in November.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Race
A lot of folks think the Governor is the only person on the ballot. In reality, the 2025 governor's race in Virginia was part of a "triple crown." Voters also picked a Lieutenant Governor (Ghazala Hashmi) and an Attorney General (Jay Jones).
Because Democrats swept all three of those plus kept the House of Delegates, the state moved into what’s called a "trifecta." That means one party has the keys to both the executive and legislative branches.
What Influenced the Last Vote?
According to the VCU Wilder School Commonwealth Poll, voters weren't just thinking about personalities. The big movers were:
- Cost of Living: This was the #1 issue for 27% of people.
- Immigration: This jumped up to the #2 spot late in the race.
- Reproductive Rights: Still a massive driver for turnout, especially in the suburbs.
Practical Steps for Virginia Voters
If you want to be ready for the next round of voting (or just make sure you're set for the 2026 midterms), here is what you should do right now:
- Check your status: Head over to the Virginia Department of Elections website. Make sure your address is current, especially if you’ve moved recently.
- Get your ID ready: Virginia requires a photo ID. A driver's license is the easiest, but a passport or even a student ID from a VA university works too.
- Mark the 2029 Calendar: It feels lightyears away, but the next governor's race in Virginia will be November 6, 2029.
- Watch the Special Elections: Seats open up all the time when people resign or move to different offices. Keep an eye on the Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) for real-time updates on who is raising money and where the local battles are happening.
Being an informed voter in Virginia is a year-round job. Since we vote every year, the best thing you can do is stay registered and keep an eye on those June and November dates.