Abigail Spanberger makes history as Virginia's first female governor, sworn in alongside other groundbreaking Democrats, signaling a new era for the state amidst federal political tensions.
Democrat Abigail Spanberger was inaugurated as Virginia's first female governor, a historic event marking the end of centuries of male leadership in the state's top office. Sworn in during a cold drizzle at the state Capitol, Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears to succeed Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Her inauguration signals a new chapter for Virginia, with Democrats now holding significant power in state government. In her address, Spanberger expressed gratitude to generations who fought for women's rights, acknowledging the gravity of the moment. She campaigned on protecting Virginia’s economy from the Trump administration's policies, addressing concerns about the civil service, rising costs, and a fragile healthcare system, and vowed to 'fix what was broken.' The historic day also saw the swearing-in of two other Democrats: Ghazala F. Hashmi, the first Muslim woman to serve in statewide office in the U.S. as lieutenant governor, and Jay Jones, Virginia’s first Black attorney general, sworn in notably in the former capital of the Confederacy. Immediately after the ceremony, Spanberger signed her first 10 executive orders, including one that rescinds a Youngkin directive requiring state law enforcement to assist with immigration enforcement, stating that local resources should not be diverted for federal civil immigration laws. Spanberger's choice to wear all white, along with a gold pin, was seen as a tribute to the women's suffrage movement. The event was attended by prominent Democrats, including New Jersey Gov.-Elect Mikie Sherrill and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and former Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder, whose own historic inauguration was referenced by Spanberger. State Democrats plan to work with Spanberger to advance their agenda, including redrawing congressional district maps, following recent gains in the House of Delegates.
