November 4, 2024

Virginia governor race tests Trump influence as historic female showdown looms

First female governor guaranteed in Nov. showdown

📋Public Policy🏛️Government💰Economy🗳️Elections

Virginia’s next gubernatorial election is set for Nov. 4, 2025, following the state’s odd‐year, first‐Tuesday‐after‐the‐first‐Monday schedule (Virginia Department of Elections).

Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears are the major party nominees, guaranteeing Virginia’s first female governor; Spanberger would be the first Democratic woman governor, while Earle-Sears would be the first Black woman and first Republican woman governor in state history (Virginia Public Access Project).

Under the Office of Personnel Management’s Federal Workforce Reduction Plan, over 144,000 federal positions in Virginia—about 10% of the state’s workforce—are targeted for elimination, with Northern Virginia alone accounting for over 25% of those federal jobs (Office of Personnel Management; Bureau of Labor Statistics).

📋Public Policy🏛️Government💰Economy🗳️Elections

Test Your Knowledge

Who are the major party nominees for Virginia Governor in 2025?

Winsome Earle-Sears would be Virginia's first Black governor if elected.

Name the federal intelligence agency headquartered in Langley, Virginia.

Abigail Spanberger served three terms representing Virginia's 7th District (2019–2025).

What is the term length for Virginia governors?

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People, bills, and sources

Abigail Spanberger (former CIA officer; U.S. Representative, VA-7, 2019

2025) – announced her candidacy for Governor of Virginia (Washington Post).

Winsome Earle-Sears (Lieutenant Governor of Virginia)

launched her Republican campaign for Governor of Virginia (Richmond Times-Dispatch).

What you can do

Check your voter registration status and make any updates before Nov. 4, 2025 by logging into the Virginia Department of Elections Citizen Portal at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/citizen-portal/.

If you are a federal employee or contractor in Virginia, review the Office of Personnel Management’s Federal Employment Reports at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/data-analysis-documentation/federal-employment-reports/ to assess whether your position is included in the 144,000+ job reductions.

For the latest on Virginia’s abortion laws and how candidate positions compare, consult the Guttmacher Institute’s state fact sheet at https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/state-facts-about-abortion-virginia.