Democrat Abigail Spanberger is set to become Virginia’s first female governor. The former CIA officer who served three terms in the U.S. House beat out Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in Tuesday’s election, NBC News’ Decision Desk projects.
Spanberger, who ran on affordability, abortion rights and public safety, is seen by many as a rising star in the Democratic Party. The 46-year-old’s win could offer lessons for Democrats nationwide as the party seeks to take back the U.S. House and Senate in next year’s midterm elections.
Occurring one year after the presidential election and one year before the midterms, Virginia’s gubernatorial race is often looked at as a bellwether for national politics.
Democrats, in particular, campaigned hard in the commonwealth ahead of Tuesday’s elections. Party heavyweights, including former President Barack Obama and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, held events with Spanberger in the closing days of the race.
In an ad urging voters to back Spanberger, Obama called Virginia’s elections “some of the most important in the country this year.” Obama won the commonwealth twice, in 2008 and 2012.
While Donald Trump endorsed Republican incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares for reelection, the president stopped short of doing the same for Earle-Sears, who is the commonwealth’s first female lieutenant governor and the first Black woman elected statewide.








