By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger is preparing to take office after Virginia Democrats swept all three statewide races and flipped 13 House of Delegates seats, giving the party full control of state government.
Reports surfaced Wednesday about the transition team, which is said to include several of her former congressional staffers and Virginia leaders. Her office hasn’t confirmed the details yet.
Her campaign centered on growing Virginia’s economy, lowering health care and prescription drug costs, strengthening public schools and protecting reproductive rights.
Freedom Virginia, a nonprofit that advocates for lower costs and middle-class policies, said the results showed the election “was a clear mandate that Virginians want pro-middle-class candidates who will put them first.”
The Democratic Party of Virginia said the results show voters are “ready for a brighter future, one where they have leaders who will help them get ahead and stand up to the chaos coming out of Washington.”
The Republican Party of Virginia thanked its candidates and supporters for their “hard-fought campaigns” and congratulated those who won. “We look forward to working with all of them to push back against radical Democrat extremism in Richmond and beyond,” the party said.
The Republican Attorneys General Association also thanked outgoing Attorney General Jason Miyares for his service, saying he led “with integrity and effective leadership.”
Former President Bill Clinton congratulated Spanberger, calling her win “a testament to your long record of service and your relentless focus on the issues that matter most to Virginians.”
That shift gives Democrats room to take another shot at education, reproductive rights and clean energy plans that stalled before.
Under the Virginia Constitution, each governor serves a four-year term starting on the Saturday after the second Wednesday in January following the election.
Spanberger’s inauguration is set for Jan. 17, 2026, at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond. The event continues a long tradition dating back to the 1800s.
Typical inaugural activities include a prayer breakfast, a parade through Capitol Square, receptions at the Executive Mansion and the formal transfer of power between outgoing and incoming governors.