Spanberger’s swearing-in on Jan. 17 outside the Virginia Capitol will close a gap stretching to the state’s colonial-era founding — no woman had previously served as Virginia’s governor. Her November win was also seen as a signal of Democratic strength ahead of this year’s midterm elections.
RICHMOND, Va. — Less than two weeks before her Jan. 17 inauguration, Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger said Tuesday she is still coming to terms with what it means to become the first woman elected to lead the state in its nearly 250-year history.
“The campaign was about the things I want to do for Virginians,” Spanberger told The Associated Press. “It’s about the challenges that Virginians are facing. But as we are preparing for the actual inauguration and for me to be sworn in, there are elements of a greater realization on my part, as I hear other people kind of verbalizing their excitement about what it means.”
The Democrat and former congresswoman will be sworn in on Jan. 17 outside the Virginia Capitol after defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears by 15 points in November. Her election ended a streak unbroken since Virginia’s colonial-era founding — no woman had previously served as the state’s governor.
A visible milestone
Spanberger said she was struck after seeing a Richmond Times-Dispatch photograph placing her image beside pictures of her male predecessors. “It said, ‘Spanberger joins the boys club,’” she recalled. “That was actually a really interesting visual for me.”
She described two recent encounters that illustrated the moment’s reach. One woman told her about her daughter’s astounded reaction upon learning Virginia had never previously had a woman as governor. Spanberger also recalled speaking with an excited teenage girl who said she hoped someday to run for president.
“For the next generation of kids, it’ll be normal to see a woman in this role, whether it’s doing the joyful things of ribbon cuttings or the hard things of contending with whatever challenges we might be facing into the future,” she said.
Policy agenda and federal relations
Spanberger said her early agenda would center on economic relief, including greater tenant protections against evictions and policies aimed at lowering prescription drug costs. Conservative critics have said her plans would drive up costs for residents in a state they described as facing economic uncertainty, decreased federal dollars, and a cost-of-living crisis.
On her relationship with the Trump administration, Spanberger said her time in Congress during Trump’s first term showed her there were areas for cooperation alongside potential conflict. “And when we can be aligned in support of Virginia, Virginians, our economy and our shared priorities, that there will be places to work with him, but when he’s making choices that might impact or hurt Virginians, Virginia jobs, Virginia’s economy, then I will be a relentless advocate for, and defender of, Virginia,” she said.
Her November win was reported as a boost for Democrats on a night that raised questions about President Donald Trump’s political strength heading into this year’s midterm elections.