Race details
Virginia Governor
Candidates
Abigail Spanberger (D)
Former CIA case officer and congresswoman from the Richmond suburbs; emphasized reproductive rights, health care access, and a mainstream Democratic pitch in swing turf.
1,976,857 votes · 57.58%
Winsome Earle-Sears (R)
Lieutenant governor and Marine veteran; stressed tax relief, education choice, and continuity with the outgoing Youngkin administration.
1,449,586 votes · 42.22%
Why this race matters
Open-seat race to succeed term-limited Governor Glenn Youngkin. Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and three-term U.S. representative, faced Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears in a costly statewide contest centered on the economy, schools, and abortion access. Spanberger’s victory returned the governor’s mansion to Democrats. Vote totals and percentages align with Wikipedia’s certified-style infobox — confirm against the Virginia Department of Elections before publish.