Abigail Spanberger Sworn In as Virginia’s First Female Governor
Spanberger won 57 percent of the vote in the Nov. 4 election, while Republican Winsome Earle-Sears received 42 percent.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger speaks after being sworn into office at the Virginia State Capitol in in Richmond, Va., on Jan. 17, 2026. Alex Wong/Getty Images
Abigail Spanberger made history on Jan. 17 as the first female governor of Virginia.
“The history and the gravity of this moment are not lost on me,” Spanberger, a Democrat, said outside of the state Capitol in Richmond during her noon inauguration address.
Jacki Thrapp
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Jacki Thrapp is an Emmy® Award-winning journalist based in Nashville. She previously worked at The New York Post, Fox News Channel and has written a series of Off-Broadway musicals in NYC. Contact her at [email protected]
