Abigail Spanberger’s journey to becoming the Democratic nominee for the Virginia governor race has been solidified.
The three-term former House member and ex-CIA case officer, who declared her candidacy for state leadership in November 2023, was officially endorsed as the party’s nominee by the Democratic Party of Virginia on Thursday, as no other potential candidates submitted filings by the state deadline.
Preparing for a New Chapter
“As the Democratic nominee for Governor of Virginia, I eagerly anticipate engaging in substantive dialogues with all Virginians—across diverse communities and irrespective of their past voting affiliations—regarding the issues that hold the utmost significance for them,” remarked Spanberger in a statement.
With Glenn Youngkin absent from the race—given Virginia’s prohibition on consecutive gubernatorial terms—Spanberger could potentially face off against Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, the current lieutenant governor of the state.
A Clear Path Forward
The path to November hasn’t always been as clear for Spanberger. Representative Bobby Scott (D-Va.) had publicly entertained the notion of entering the race as recently as February. Additionally, former Richmond mayor Levar Stoney, backed by ex-governor Terry McAuliffe, withdrew his candidacy in April 2024 to vie for the lieutenant governor position, aiming to sidestep a contentious primary battle against Spanberger.
“We are poised for this juncture, we are committed to advocating for Virginians, and we are steadfast in our resolve to elect Abigail Spanberger as our next Governor,” affirmed Lamont Bagby, chair of the state Democratic party, in a declaration.
