Abigail Spanberger will be sworn in Saturday as Virginia’s 75th governor, becoming the first woman to hold the office since 1776. The inauguration in Richmond will include traditional pageantry and a parade and coincides with other historic firsts: Ghazala F. Hashmi as the first Muslim woman to hold statewide office in the U.S. and Jay Jones as Virginia’s first Black attorney general. Spanberger campaigned on safeguarding the state’s economy from federal policies and plans to work with state Democrats on priorities such as redistricting ahead of the midterms.
Abigail Spanberger Sworn In as Virginia’s First Woman Governor in Historic Richmond Inauguration
Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger greets visitors at a ceremony to dedicate a statue of Virginia civil rights activist Barbara Rose Johns, whose statue will replace one of Robert E. Lee as one of Virginia's two statues on display at the Capitol, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
RICHMOND, Va. — Abigail Spanberger will be sworn in Saturday as Virginia’s 75th governor, becoming the first woman to hold the post since statehood in 1776. The midday ceremony on the steps of the state Capitol is expected to feature traditional pageantry and grandeur, followed by a customary inaugural parade.
Spanberger, a former CIA case officer and a member of Congress, defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in November. Her installation marks a milestone in Virginia history: the governor’s office has been held exclusively by men since the commonwealth’s founding, and no woman served as a colonial governor before statehood.
Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger during an interview at the Capitol Tuesday Jan. 6, 2026, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
“For the next generation of kids, it’ll be normal to see a woman in this role, whether it’s doing the joyful things of ribbon cuttings or the hard things of contending with whatever challenges we might be facing into the future,” Spanberger said.
By longstanding protocol, she will be addressed as “Madam Governor” or, as some officials prefer, “Her Excellency.”
The inauguration coincides with other historic firsts in Virginia’s statewide offices. Democrat Ghazala F. Hashmi will be sworn in as lieutenant governor, becoming the first Muslim woman to hold statewide office in the United States. Democrat Jay Jones will be sworn in as attorney general, becoming Virginia’s first Black attorney general. Both will take their oaths in Richmond, the former capital of the Confederacy.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin acknowledges the applause as he delivers his State of the Commonwealth Address during the opening of the 2026 session of the General Assembly at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. Lt. Gov. Winsome Earl-Sears, top left, House Speaker, Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, top center, and Senate President Pro ten, Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, join in the welcome. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Saturday’s ceremony also marks the end of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration; Youngkin is expected to hand Spanberger the key to the executive mansion as part of the peaceful transition of power.
Policy Priorities and Political Context
Spanberger campaigned on a platform of protecting Virginia’s economy from aggressive federal policies. On the campaign trail she criticized the White House for actions she said have weakened the civil service, pointed to rising consumer costs and warned of stresses on the state’s health-care system.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, center, arrives to deliver his State of the Commonwealth Address during the opening of the 2026 session of the General Assembly at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Wednesday Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Democrats’ recent success at the state level — including a 13-seat gain in the House of Delegates after the 2024 presidential election — gives Spanberger and her party momentum as they outline an ambitious agenda. Statehouse Democrats say they will work with the governor to enact priorities that include redrawing the state’s congressional map ahead of this year’s midterm elections.
This inauguration marks a new chapter for Virginia politics: a state executive led by Democrats while neighboring Washington remains under Republican federal leadership, underscoring the often-divergent political landscape between state and national government.
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