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2025 Virginia gubernatorial election

Updated: Wikipedia source

2025 Virginia gubernatorial election

The 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2025, to elect the governor of Virginia. Democratic former U . representative Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican lieutenant governor Winsome Earle-Sears. Incumbent Republican governor Glenn Youngkin was ineligible to seek re-election to a second consecutive term due to the state's prohibition on consecutive gubernatorial terms. Neither Earle-Sears nor Spanberger received opposition in their respective primaries. In April 2025, Earle-Sears and Spanberger were confirmed as the major party nominees. Spanberger defeated Earle-Sears by 527,271 votes which is the largest raw vote margin in state history. She won by 15 % — the largest gubernatorial percentage margin since 2009. Democrats won all three statewide executive offices and a trifecta in Virginia's government for the first time since 2019. The central issues of the campaign were the economy and affordability, which included the federal layoffs from the Trump administration. Transgender rights and political rhetoric followed behind as secondary issues. President Trump's general unpopularity and perceived performance on the economy, healthcare, immigration, and other issues were viewed as contributing factors for Earle-Sears's loss. Spanberger was elected the first female governor in the state's history, winning by the largest Democratic gubernatorial margin since 1961. She was sworn in as the 75th governor of Virginia on January 17, 2026.

Infobox

Turnout
54 % 0
Nominee
Abigail Spanberger
Party
Democratic
Popular vote
1,976,857
Percentage
57 %

Tables

Cygnal (R)
Cygnal (R)
Poll source
Cygnal (R)
Date(s) administered
October 27–29, 2024
Sample size
600 (LV)
Margin of error
± 4 %
Jason Miyares
12%
Winsome Earle-Sears
48%
Undecided
40%
Cygnal (R)
Cygnal (R)
Poll source
Cygnal (R)
Date(s) administered
March 13–14, 2024
Sample size
510 (LV)
Margin of error
± 4 %
Jason Miyares
16%
Winsome Earle-Sears
44%
Undecided
41%
Differentiators Data
Differentiators Data
Poll source
Differentiators Data
Date(s) administered
February 21–24, 2023
Sample size
500 (LV)
Margin of error
± 4 %
Jason Miyares
17%
Winsome Earle-Sears
48%
Undecided
35%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Jason Miyares
Winsome Earle-Sears
Undecided
Cygnal (R)
October 27–29, 2024
600 (LV)
± 4 %
12%
48%
40%
Cygnal (R)
March 13–14, 2024
510 (LV)
± 4 %
16%
44%
41%
Differentiators Data
February 21–24, 2023
500 (LV)
± 4 %
17%
48%
35%
· Republican primary › Fundraising
Candidate
Candidate
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Candidate
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Raised
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Spent
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Cash on hand
Winsome Earle-Sears
Winsome Earle-Sears
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Winsome Earle-Sears
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
$5,677,456
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
$1,630,867
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
$4,046,590
Amanda Chase (failed to qualify)
Amanda Chase (failed to qualify)
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Amanda Chase (failed to qualify)
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
$34,835
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
$51,204
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
$1,538
Dave LaRock (failed to qualify)
Dave LaRock (failed to qualify)
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Dave LaRock (failed to qualify)
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
$26,874
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
$25,813
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
$1,060
Source: Virginia Public Access Project
Source: Virginia Public Access Project
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Source: Virginia Public Access Project
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Winsome Earle-Sears
$5,677,456
$1,630,867
$4,046,590
Amanda Chase (failed to qualify)
$34,835
$51,204
$1,538
Dave LaRock (failed to qualify)
$26,874
$25,813
$1,060
Source: Virginia Public Access Project
· Democratic primary › Polling
Public Policy Polling (D)
Public Policy Polling (D)
Poll source
Public Policy Polling (D)
Date(s) administered
March 25–26, 2024
Sample size
734 (LV)
Margin of error
—
Abigail Spanberger
44%
Levar Stoney
11%
Undecided
45%
Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University
Poll source
Christopher Newport University
Date(s) administered
January 11–16, 2024
Sample size
1000 (RV)
Margin of error
± 3 %
Abigail Spanberger
52%
Levar Stoney
8%
Undecided
40%
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size
Margin of error
Abigail Spanberger
Levar Stoney
Undecided
April 22, 2024
Stoney withdraws from the race
Public Policy Polling (D)
March 25–26, 2024
734 (LV)
—
44%
11%
45%
Christopher Newport University
January 11–16, 2024
1000 (RV)
± 3 %
52%
8%
40%
· Democratic primary › Fundraising
Candidate
Candidate
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Candidate
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Raised
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Spent
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Cash on hand
Abigail Spanberger
Abigail Spanberger
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Abigail Spanberger
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
$16,301,998
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
$5,297,212
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
$11,004,790
Source: Virginia Public Access Project
Source: Virginia Public Access Project
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Source: Virginia Public Access Project
Primary campaign finance activity through March 31, 2025
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Abigail Spanberger
$16,301,998
$5,297,212
$11,004,790
Source: Virginia Public Access Project
2025 Virginia gubernatorial debate · General election › Debate › Analysis
Key:  P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
Key:  P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
No.
Key:  P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
Earle-Sears
Earle-Sears
No.
Earle-Sears
Date
Spanberger
1
1
No.
1
Date
October 9, 2025
Host
WAVY-TV Norfolk State University
Moderators
Deanna Albrittin Tom Schaad
Republican
P
Democratic
P
No.
Date
Host
Moderators
Link
Republican
Democratic
Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn
Earle-Sears
Spanberger
1
October 9, 2025
WAVY-TV Norfolk State University
Deanna Albrittin Tom Schaad
P
P

References

  1. From May 21 to September 10, 2025, Virginia's 11th congressional district was vacant after the death of Democratic repre
  2. Commonly referred to as DOGE.
  3. Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
  4. Held office as a Republican
  5. Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  6. Donna Charles with 5%
  7. Donna Charles with 1%
  8. "Would not vote" with 0%
  9. Donna Charles with 4%
  10. "Refused" with 2%; "Some other candidate" with 1%
  11. "Refused" with 1%; Donna Charles with 0%
  12. "Neither" and "Would not vote" with 1%
  13. "Neither" with 3%; "Would not vote" with 2%
  14. Donna Charles with 2%
  15. "None of these" with 1%
  16. "Neither" and "Would not vote" with 2%
  17. "Other" with 1%
  18. "Wouldn't vote" with 1%; "Someone else" with 1%
  19. Donna Charles with 3%
  20. "Some other candidate" with 1%
Image
Source: —
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