Virginia Governor — Abigail Anne Spanberger
Abigail Spanberger is Virginia's first female governor, elected in November 2025 by a 15.36% landslide margin. A former CIA officer and three-term congresswoman, she ran her 2025 campaign primarily on affordability—lowering healthcare, housing, and energy costs. She has promised structural reforms to address voter restoration, reproductive rights, gun safety, and economic development.
Make Virginia more affordable by lowering healthcare, housing, and energy costs
Status: in-progress
Signed first slate of legislation in March-April 2026 targeting affordability. Signed bills to regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), expand housing supply, protect ratepayers from energy costs, and establish a Chief Energy Officer. Announced Affordable Virginia Agenda with legislative leaders; more than half of proposals passed with bipartisan support.
Raise the state minimum wage to $15 per hour
Status: in-progress
Signed legislation in April 2026 to incrementally raise minimum wage to $15/hour by January 1, 2028. The phased schedule increases it to $12.77 in 2026, $13.75 in 2027, and $15 in 2028. This reverses vetoes by predecessor Glenn Youngkin.
Strengthen gun safety by banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines
Status: in-progress
General Assembly passed assault weapons ban bills (HB 217 and SB 749) in March 2026, sent to governor's desk. Bills would ban sale, manufacture, and import of assault weapons and magazines holding more than 15 rounds, effective July 1, 2026. Governor has indicated support; bills expected to be signed. Also promised to ban ghost guns and strengthen red-flag laws.
Protect and enshrine reproductive rights, including abortion access and contraception
Status: in-progress
Signed bills in February 2026 to place reproductive rights constitutional amendment on November 2026 ballot. Amendment would protect prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion, miscarriage management, and fertility care, with restrictions on third-trimester abortion only when health is at risk or pregnancy is not viable. Also signed bill establishing right to contraception (HB 6/SB 596) in April 2026.
Create a regulated legal adult-use cannabis market
Status: in-progress
General Assembly passed HB 642 on March 14-15, 2026, establishing regulated retail market. Expected to sign; retail sales would begin January 1, 2027. This reverses five-year stalemate following 2021 legalization of possession. Governor was vocal supporter on campaign trail.
Expand collective bargaining rights for public sector workers
Status: in-progress
General Assembly passed legislation in March 2026 to lift ban on public sector collective bargaining for about 500,000 workers including teachers, firefighters, home care workers, and university service workers. Legislation sent to governor's desk by April 13, 2026 deadline. Excludes higher education faculty. Governor appears supportive.
Rescind Youngkin's immigration enforcement order and protect vulnerable populations
Status: completed
Signed executive order on Day 1 (January 17, 2026) rescinding Youngkin's Executive Order 47, which had directed state and local law enforcement cooperation with federal ICE enforcement. New order prevents state agencies from entering cooperation agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Not fully repeal Virginia's right-to-work law (pledged to maintain it)
Status: ongoing
In May 2025, Spanberger said she would NOT sign a bill to fully repeal Virginia's right-to-work law if elected governor. This position was criticized by national AFL-CIO in December 2025. Legislation expanding collective bargaining for public sector passed in March 2026, but did not touch private-sector right-to-work protections.
