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 she became 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 Virginia 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]
