Abigail Spanberger has won the race for Virginia governor, the AP reports.
Why it matters: The Henrico native will be the first woman to hold the state's top office — and the first from the Richmond area in over a decade.
Driving the news: Spanberger won 55% of the vote, per AP. Her opponent, Winsome Earle-Sears, captured 45%.
State of play: The former congresswoman and CIA agent's victory continues "the Virginia curse." That's the state's track record of electing a governor from the opposite political party of the sitting U.S. president.
- There's only been one time in the past 50 years when the curse didn't stick: The year after President Obama's reelection, Democrat Terry McAuliffe beat Republican Ken Cuccinelli.
The big picture: The U.S. has had only 51 female governors.
Zoom in: This election was one of the most-watched nationally, with many viewing it as a proxy for President Trump. He made considerable gains in Virginia during the 2020 election, but his new term has caused pocketbook pain to many statewide.
- Spanberger used the Trump administration's impact on Virginia's federal workforce and the rising cost of living as campaign talking points.
- She also frequently tied Earle-Sears to the president.
Flashback: Spanberger's national profile began taking shape in 2018, when she flipped a longtime Republican House seat that represented Chesterfield and Henrico.
- Her victory sparked an unlikely blue wave in Chesterfield, largely driven by liberal women who channeled their dislike of Trump toward defeating Republicans in local races.
