Abigail Spanberger was formally sworn in as the seventy-fifth governor of Virginia on January seventeenth, marking the first time a woman has held the commonwealth’s highest office in its near 250-year history.

The inauguration at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond drew a large crowd amid cold, drizzly weather, with Spanberger wearing white in tribute to the women’s suffrage movement and underscoring the symbolic breakthrough her election represents.

Spanberger succeeds Republican Glenn Youngkin after winning the 2025 election by a decisive margin, a victory that also signified a significant Democratic gain in the state.

In her address, Spanberger paid tribute to the generations of Virginians who fought for political inclusion and pledged to address pressing issues such as the cost of living, access to healthcare, and economic stability.

She also signed a series of executive orders within hours of taking office, including one rescinding her predecessor’s directive that had required state law enforcement to support federal immigration enforcement efforts.

Spanberger framed her early actions as grounded in unity and practical governance, saying that Virginians must work together despite political differences.

Spanberger’s inauguration featured a succession of historic firsts for Virginia’s leadership.

Ghazala F. Hashmi was sworn in as lieutenant governor, becoming the first Muslim woman and first Asian American to hold statewide office in the United States.

Jay Jones took the oath as attorney general, the first Black person elected to that position in Virginia.

The Democratic Party also holds majorities in both chambers of the state legislature, positioning Spanberger to advance a broad agenda that includes redistricting and policies aimed at improving affordability and access to essential services.