Virginia Governor Election

By News Blog Contributor – November 5, 2025 (Richmond, VA) – Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) has defeated Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) to win the Virginia gubernatorial election, according to projections on Tuesday night. Spanberger’s victory makes her the first woman ever elected governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia and flips the state’s executive office back to Democrats in a closely watched bellwether contest.

With over 95% of precincts reporting, Spanberger led by a decisive margin of 55% to 45%, a surprisingly strong finish in a state known for tight recent races. She carried densely populated urban and suburban counties by large margins, offsetting Earle-Sears’ support in rural regions. Voter turnout was high for an off-year election, at roughly 50+% of registered voters.

Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger celebrates with supporters at her victory party in Richmond on Election Night.

Spanberger, 44, a former CIA officer, cultivated a reputation as a pragmatic centrist in Congress. On the campaign trail for governor, she emphasized protecting abortion rights, investing in education, and “bringing decency and results back to Richmond.” She vowed to block any abortion ban in Virginia, a critical issue after the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

Her opponent, Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a Jamaican-born Marine Corps veteran and staunch conservative, conceded defeat in a gracious speech. “While tonight didn’t go as we hoped, I congratulate Abigail Spanberger on her victory and on breaking that glass ceiling for Virginia,” Sears said, urging supporters to unite behind the new Governor.

“Tonight’s election results hammer home the irrelevance of the Democratic Party’s internal navel-gazing... Biden and Harris had bad vibes in 2024... Now Trump is in office and ... he and the GOP have the bad vibes now such that these races aren’t particularly close.”

– Commenter on a political forum.

This sentiment—that Spanberger’s win was driven largely by a backlash to President Trump’s return and the GOP’s image—was echoed across social media. Many observers noted that Virginia’s result fits a historical pattern of the state swinging against the party holding the White House in its off-year governor’s race.

A Historic First and What It Means

Spanberger’s win is momentous for Virginia, a state that had never elected a woman as governor in its 230-year history. “Virginia has finally elected a female chief executive – it’s a momentous milestone,” said political analyst Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia.

Beyond the symbolism, Democrats are hailing the victory as a validation of their moderate strategy. Spanberger famously criticized progressive slogans like “Defund the Police” after the 2020 election. Her triumph is now seen by centrists as evidence that a focus on bread-and-butter issues and a bipartisan tone is the right formula for Democrats in swing states.

Election Night “Blue Wave” – Democrats Sweep Key Races Nationally

The outcome in Virginia was part of a broader Democratic sweep in major elections on Tuesday, in what some commentators are calling a “blue wave” rebuke to the Trump-era Republican Party.

New Jersey

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), a former Navy helicopter pilot, won the New Jersey governor’s race, defeating Republican Jack Ciattarelli by a stunning 15-point margin.

New York City Mayor

In a historic outcome, Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic Socialist, was elected Mayor of New York City. He defeated several challengers, including a failed comeback bid by former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo.

California – Prop 50

Voters approved Proposition 50, a statewide ballot measure authorizing new congressional district maps expected to favor Democrats in 2026.

Georgia

Democrats scored upset victories by flipping two statewide offices in special elections for Secretary of State and the Public Service Commission.

Key Factors in Spanberger’s Victory in Virginia

Several factors specific to Virginia contributed to Spanberger’s comfortable win:

• Backlash to Trump’s Presidency: Spanberger effectively made the race a referendum on Trump-style leadership, capitalizing on public disapproval of a recent government shutdown, ongoing inflation, and controversial immigration policies.
• Abortion Rights Energy: With Virginia’s status as a Southern state without new abortion restrictions at stake, Spanberger’s pledge to veto any abortion ban galvanized pro-choice voters. Exit polls showed abortion was the top issue for voters.
• Candidate Backgrounds and Appeal: Spanberger’s background as a former federal agent and her moderate positioning appealed to suburban voters. In contrast, Earle-Sears’ more provocative conservative style struggled to win over independents.
• Campaign Strategy and Resources: The Spanberger campaign was well-funded, raising over $25 million and dominating the airwaves with ads linking Earle-Sears to Trump. A strong grassroots turnout operation in key suburbs proved decisive.
• Historical Voting Trends: Spanberger’s win confirms that Virginia’s decades-long shift to blue is holding, if not accelerating, in the era of Trump-style Republicanism.

Implications: Virginia’s Direction and 2026 Midterms

When Abigail Spanberger is inaugurated on January 17, 2026, she will take office with a strong hand. Democrats also won the races for Attorney General (Jay Jones) and Lieutenant Governor (Hala Ayala), securing all three statewide offices.

Combined with a Democratic-controlled state legislature, this gives the party a trifecta in Richmond for the first time since 2020. This unified control will ease the path for Spanberger’s agenda, which includes expanding paid family leave, boosting education funding, and codifying abortion rights into state law. Due to Virginia’s unique constitutional rule, governors cannot serve consecutive terms, giving Spanberger a single four-year term to accomplish her goals.

Nationally, Democrats are seizing on the "blue wave" as a morale booster heading into the 2026 midterm elections. Republican strategists, meanwhile, are sounding the alarm. A senior GOP adviser told the Washington Post, “If we don’t recalibrate before 2026, we’re in trouble. You can’t win general elections by only catering to the MAGA base.”

In her victory speech, Spanberger declared, “Virginia voted for progress over division. We chose to move forward.” She pledged that her administration will “represent all Virginians – Democrats, Republicans and independents alike – because we have to solve problems together.”

Sources & Further Reading

• Decision Desk HQ – Official race call and results data for the 2025 Virginia Governor election.
• Associated Press: “Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger won’t seek House reelection, eyes run for Va. governor” (Nov. 2023)
• CNN Politics: “Spanberger defeats Sears in high-stakes Virginia governor’s race”
• Ballotpedia: “Governor of Virginia – Overview”
• Virginia Department of Elections: Official Election Results Portal
• Sabato’s Crystal Ball: “Blue Wave in the Old Dominion: How Spanberger Won and Virginia’s Political Future.”