Democrat Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia governor�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.

Spanberger�s victory will flip partisan control of the governor�s office when she succeeds outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

�We sent a message to every corner of the commonwealth, a message to our neighbors and our fellow Americans across the country,� Spanberger told cheering supporters Tuesday night in Richmond. �We sent a message to the whole word that in 2025, Virginia chose pragmatism over partisanship. We chose our commonwealth over chaos.�

Spanberger, a former congresswoman and CIA case officer, won by emphasizing economic issues, a strategy that may serve as a model for other Democrats in next year�s elections as they try to break President Donald Trump�s and Republicans� hold on power in Washington and gain ground in statehouses.

(AP)