By Molly Manning
Abigail Spanberger began her term as the 75th governor of Virginia this Saturday with a historic and rainy inauguration at the Virginia State Capitol. Spanberger will serve as the first female governor in the commonwealth’s history.
In her inaugural address, she thanked those who came before her and allowed her to take the role of governor, including Virginia’s first Black governor, L. Douglas Wilder.
“I stand before those who made it possible for a woman to also participate in that peaceful transfer of power and take that oath…” Spanberger said.
Spanberger served three terms beginning in 2019 as the first female representative for Virginia’s 7th District in Congress, where she championed bipartisan legislation on issues like veterans’ services and overdose prevention.
In her run for governor, she honed in on her stances on reproductive rights, affordability and education, emphasizing her role as a mother to three daughters in Virginia public schools. In her inaugural address, Spanberger mentioned how her role as a mother motivates her to help all of Virginia’s children.
Maddy Funk, interim president for Virginia Commonwealth University’s chapter of the National Organization for Women, said it is essential for women and girls, especially from a young age, to be able to see themselves represented.
“I think being able to see someone like that will inspire a lot of young women, and even older women to know that they have a place in politics and a place in the world,” Funk said. “I’m very excited about the potential of what Virginia could look like under her leadership.”
Spanberger defeated former Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in November’s statewide election, meaning Virginia would have had its first female governor regardless of who won.
The election brought a blue sweep to the state, and as Spanberger begins her term as the chief executive, she will be joined by Democrats Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi and Attorney General Jay Jones. In addition, House Democrats flipped 13 General Assembly seats, giving them 64 seats to the Republicans’ 36.
In her election night victory speech, Spanberger thanked Mary Sue Terry, the first woman elected to a Virginia statewide office as attorney general in 1985.
Terry said she’s thrilled about the election of a female governor, and that it’s hard to measure the dimensions of what Abigail Spanberger’s win will mean for the women and girls of Virginia. She said the mention in her speech made her “heart sing.”
“Abigail Spanberger represents the type of woman who can move Virginia in a new and unprecedented way. And that makes my heart soar,” Terry said in an interview with Virginia Scope. “She has been so surprising and the extent (to) which she distinguishes herself from any prior statewide elected officials, it’s remarkable.”
Richmond nurse Elizabeth Manning attended the inauguration and said she has supported Spanberger since her initial run for Congress because she is very “common sense.”
Manning also said it is “about stinking time” Virginia elected a woman.
Natalie Bowen, secretary for the National Organization of Women at VCU, said it is disheartening that the state is just now electing a female governor.
“Virginia has been around for a lot longer than some of our other states, and women have been very heavily involved in the creation of this commonwealth,” Bowen said. “I think it’s unfortunate that it is only now that we’re getting representation for what women have done for the commonwealth.”
In addition to the state welcoming its first female governor, Hashmi is also the first Muslim woman elected to a statewide office in any state, and Jones is the state’s first Black attorney general.
Virginia now has its first “First Gentleman,” Adam Spanberger. He is tasked with filling a role that has historically been held only by the First Ladies of Virginia.
In addition to the Inaugural Ball at Main Street Station and other Inauguration Day festivities, Adam Spanberger is hosting a First Gentleman’s Breakfast at the Science Museum of Virginia on Sunday morning to introduce himself to the community.
Adam Spanberger has publicly supported his wife throughout her campaigns, both as a congresswoman and now as governor. His support is reflected in LinkedIn entries listed alongside his software engineering roles, where he describes himself as a “jack of all trades” and an adviser on both of Abigail Spanberger’s campaigns.
Funk said the support Adam Spanberger shows for his wife ought to be an inspiration for young men.
“I think having representation of a man who loves and supports and uplifts his woman, but also a woman in power,” Funk said. “I think that’s going to be really huge for younger men to look up to.”
Across the country, a record 14 women will serve as governors in 2025. In total, the country has seen 51 female governors in 32 of 50 states — now 33, with Virginia included.