Abigail Spanberger sworn in as Virginia’s first female governor in historic inauguration

Democrat Abigail Spanberger was sworn in as Virginia’s first female governor. Spanberger was sworn in midday Saturday amid a cold drizzle outside the state Capitol after centuries of men holding the state’s highest offices.

“The history and gravity of this moment are not lost on me. I have a deep sense of gratitude to those who worked, generation after generation, to ensure that women could be among the voters, but who could only dream of a day like today,” Spanberger said in his inaugural address.

“I stand before those who allowed a woman to also participate in this peaceful transfer of power and take this oath…” she added.

Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears will succeed Governor Glenn Youngkin, also a Republican. During the election, Spanberger, a former CIA officer and congresswoman, positioned herself as an opponent of the Trump administration. She often took advantage of frustrations over federal layoffs in a state with nearly 150,000 federal civilian jobs to shore up her role.

His victory marks a new chapter as Democrats pull the levers of power in Virginia while Republican President Trump sits in the neighboring White House.

Two other Democrats were also sworn in. Ghazala F. Hashmi, the first Muslim woman to hold statewide office in the United States, is the new lieutenant governor. Jay Jones is the first black person elected attorney general of Virginia, winning the race despite a texting scandal.

She will be referred to with the traditional formality: “Madam Governor” or, as some officials say, “her Excellency”.

Spanberger’s inauguration marks a new chapter in the state, with Democrats pulling the levers of power in state government while Republicans run neighboring Washington. The state’s Democrats picked up 13 seats in the House of Delegates a year after the party’s stunning defeats nationwide in the general election. 2024 presidential election.

The governor vowed to protect Virginia’s economy from Mr. Trump’s aggressive tactics. administration. Along the way, she talked about the White House’s defunding of the civil service, rising costs of goods and changes impacting the state’s already fragile health care system.

She addressed these issues during her inauguration speech, saying she knows many “worry about Washington’s recklessness” that is reducing access to health care, jeopardizing rural hospitals and driving up costs. She added that she knows many are worried about Washington’s “policies that shut down markets, harm innovation and private industry, and attack those who have dedicated their lives to public service.”

Democrats within the state have pledged to work with Spanberger to advance their bullish agenda, which includes redrawing the state’s congressional district map ahead of this year’s midterm elections.