Virginia elected its first female governor, Abigail Spanberger.
November 05, 2025
high
temporal
Historical milestone in Virginia gubernatorial elections.
A 2025 CBS News exit poll in Virginia found that voters who identified the economy as the most important issue favored Abigail Spanberger over Winsome Earle-Sears by more than 20 percentage points.
November 05, 2025
high
statistical
Exit poll subgroup result showing the preferences of voters prioritizing the economy in the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial race.
Abigail Spanberger previously served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
November 04, 2025
high
temporal
Biographical background on a political officeholder's prior legislative service.
Abigail Spanberger served in the Central Intelligence Agency before running for Congress in 2018.
November 04, 2025
high
temporal
Biographical detail linking prior professional service to a subsequent congressional campaign.
A 2025 Suffolk University poll of likely voters in Virginia found Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger leading Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears 52% to 43%.
October 23, 2025
high
temporal
statewide gubernatorial polling result reported by Suffolk University Political Research Center
Abigail Spanberger was a Democratic candidate running for governor of Virginia in 2025.
January 01, 2025
high
temporal
Candidate status for the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election.
A 2025 Fox News Voter Poll found that about two-thirds of Abigail Spanberger supporters said their vote was expressly to show opposition to President Donald Trump, while about one-third of Winsome Earle-Sears supporters said their vote was expressly to show support for the president.
January 01, 2025
high
statistical
Respondents were asked whether their vote was intended as a signal of support for or opposition to the president.
A 2025 Fox News Voter Poll found a substantial gender gap in the Virginia governor race: 65% of women supported Abigail Spanberger versus 35% for Winsome Earle-Sears, while men supported Winsome Earle-Sears by 4 points (48% for Spanberger, 52% for Earle-Sears), producing a 34-point gender gap.
January 01, 2025
high
statistical
Gender breakdown from near-final data of the Fox News Voter Poll of Virginia voters.
A 2025 Wall Street Journal analysis found that working-class, Hispanic, and Black neighborhoods in Virginia and New Jersey that had supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election shifted toward Democratic candidates in the 2025 gubernatorial elections.
January 01, 2025
high
statistical
Comparison of voting patterns between the 2024 presidential election and 2025 gubernatorial elections as identified by a Wall Street Journal analysis.
Abigail Spanberger previously served as an undercover officer for the Central Intelligence Agency, and Mikie Sherrill previously served as a pilot in the U.S. Navy.
January 01, 2024
high
biographical
Both individuals held careers in national security-related roles prior to their congressional service.
Abigail Spanberger was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm election.
November 06, 2018
high
temporal
Spanberger began her congressional service following the 2018 midterm elections.
Abigail Spanberger is a Democratic U.S. Representative from Virginia.
high
temporal
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives identified by party and state.
Abigail Spanberger previously served as a Central Intelligence Agency operations officer before entering politics.
high
biographical
Biographical background of Abigail Spanberger prior to her political career.
Abigail Spanberger is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia.
high
biographical
Biographical background of a political candidate.
Abigail Spanberger is a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer.
high
biographical
Background information about a political candidate's prior career.
Abigail Spanberger is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives.
high
positional
Prior elected office held by a political figure.