Virginia’s first female Governor inaugurated Saturday

In a historic ceremony at the State Capitol on January 17, 2026, Abigail Spanberger was sworn in as the 75th Governor of Virginia, becoming the first woman in the Commonwealth’s 250-year history to hold the office.

Addressing a crowd that included former governors, Spanberger acknowledged the profound gravity of the moment, paying tribute to the generations of suffragists who fought for decades on those very steps for a seat at the table of power. She framed her victory not just as a personal milestone, but as a fulfillment of the dreams of those who were long denied the right to vote.

The Governor’s inaugural address focused heavily on the theme of “progress through unity,” drawing a direct line from the state’s founding fathers to the present day. Invoking the words of Patrick Henry, she warned against the “factions” that threaten to divide the nation, urging Virginians to return to the core meaning of a “Commonwealth”—a government dedicated to the common good rather than partisan interests. She specifically called for an end to bitter political divisions, echoing the 1970 plea of Governor Linwood Holton for leadership that prioritizes action over party loyalty.

The ceremony also served as a bridge between Virginia’s past and future. Spanberger offered a special salute to former Governor L. Douglas Wilder—the nation’s first elected Black governor—who attended the event on his 95th birthday.

As she begins her four-year term during the 250th anniversary of American independence, Spanberger pledged to work tirelessly for all Virginians, asserting that the work of perfecting democracy is never finished and that the Commonwealth must continue to lead the way for the rest of the nation.