According to Decision Desk HQ, Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia governor’s race as the candidate for the Democrats.
Decision Desk HQ and the Associated Press projected Spanberger defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in Virginia’s gubernatorial race. At the same time, Democrat Ghazala Hashmi won the lieutenant governor contest over Republican John Reid, becoming the first Muslim woman to hold statewide office.
Term-limited Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, was ineligible to seek consecutive terms under state law.
Spanberger, a former congresswoman, entered the race as a firm favorite, given that Virginia has historically elected governors from the party opposite the one in the White House. Polls consistently showed her leading by double digits on the eve of Election Day. The moderate Democrat and former national security official also centered her campaign on opposing President Trump’s agenda to energize anti-Trump voters. Democrats also heavily outspent Republicans in Virginia, with Spanberger and her allies investing $50 million in ads—double the $25 million spent by Earle-Sears and GOP groups, according to Axios and AdImpact.
Though Trump joined a tele-rally with Earle-Sears, he never formally endorsed her. Last month, he offered only mild support, telling reporters the Republican candidate was “very good” and should win because “the Democrat is a disaster.”
Abigail Spanberger, a former congresswoman and CIA agent, will be the first woman to serve as governor of Virginia, following a streak of 74 men. Spanberger’s campaign was laser-focused on attacking President Trump’s policies. https://t.co/eNJn7dZlu1 pic.twitter.com/3suinBfKr3
— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 5, 2025
Winsome Sears was a terrible candidate who opposed Trump’s 2024 re-election bid.
Republicans need to stop nominating these non-MAGA candidates.
This brand of conservatism is finished. pic.twitter.com/SyQ6Tdlcyo
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) November 5, 2025
Democrat Ghazala Hashmi is the new lieutenant governor of Virginia. Hashmi, who was not born in America, attends events wearing a headscarf and speaking Arabic, all while standing behind a giant banner reading, “He has named you Muslims.” pic.twitter.com/mKL5By7ZCb
— Loomer Unleashed (@LoomerUnleashed) November 5, 2025
