Abigail Spanberger becomes Virginia’s 1st female governor in historic inauguration
WTOP • • nation
Key Points:
- Democrat Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears to become Virginia’s 75th governor and the first woman to hold the post since statehood in 1776, marking a historic milestone in Virginia politics.
- Spanberger emphasized unity and progress in her inaugural address, quoting Virginia’s first governor Patrick Henry and expressing gratitude to generations of women who fought for voting rights.
- Alongside Spanberger, Ghazala F. Hashmi became the first Muslim woman to hold statewide office as lieutenant governor, and Jay Jones was sworn in as Virginia’s first Black attorney general.
- Spanberger’s inauguration featured symbolic gestures such as her all-white attire, likely honoring the women’s suffrage movement, while maintaining traditional inauguration protocols.
- The Democratic Party
