Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger has won Virginiaā€™s election for governor. Her win gives Democrats a boost heading into the 2026 midterm elections and compels Republicans to consider how President Donald Trump and his allies might fare in battleground states and districts.

Democrat Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia governorā€™s race Tuesday, defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears to give Democrats a key victory heading into the 2026 midterm elections and make history as the first woman ever to lead the commonwealth.

Spanbergerā€™s victory will flip partisan control of the governorā€™s office when she succeeds outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Also Tuesday, Democrat Ghazala F. Hashmi won the lieutenant governorā€™s race and will succeed Earle-Sears. Hashmi is the first Muslim woman to win a statewide office in the U.S.

Spanberger, a former congresswoman and CIA case officer, won with a campaign emphasizing economic issues, a strategy that may serve as a model for other Democrats in next yearā€™s elections as they try to break Donald Trumpā€™s and Republicansā€™ hold on power in Washington and gain ground in statehouses.