FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger appeared confident that she would succeed Gov. Glenn Youngkin (D-VA) as the next chief executive of the Old Dominion on the first day of early voting.
At a campaign rally outside the Fairfax Government Center, Spanberger encouraged a group of supporters to cast their ballots early as she seeks to defeat Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R-VA) in the November showdown.
“I look forward to the next 45 days of early voting for encouraging people to use their voices in casting their vote,” Spanberger said before reminding the crowd of the early voting window. “I know that at the end of these 45 days … early voting goes until November 1st.
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“On November 4, I am excited about what the next chapter is, which is the part where we get to go to Richmond and we start to do the good work of governing well on behalf of all Virginians,” she continued of the Democratic ticket that includes Ghazala Hashmi, the lieutenant governor candidate, and Jay Jones, the attorney general candidate.
The Democratic candidate has consistently led Earle-Sears in polling and fundraising this year.
But Earle-Sears has recently narrowed the polling gap after a campaign shake-up over the summer that helped her campaign focus its attacks against her Democratic competitor.
Spanberger has consistently tied Earle-Sears to President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency’s job cuts, which affected many Virginia residents.
“We want someone to stand up for the federal workforce, our neighbors, our friends, our fellow Virginians who have lost their jobs in service to our country because of DOGE and all of the other community members, small business owners, restaurant owners who have been impacted,” Spanberger said to loud applause.
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Spanberger cast her vote early Friday morning in Henrico County before her Fairfax event in the afternoon. Virginia will have its first female governor if either candidate wins.
“At this moment in time, I am excited about what is possible. I am excited about the fact that today, on early voting, September 19, we have brought people out to the polls all across Virginia who want to cast their ballot,” Spanberger said.
After she cast her ballot, John Reid, the Republican lieutenant governor candidate, crashed a press gaggle and shook hands with Spanberger in a show of professionalism.
“In these times, even a quick handshake goes a long way — at the end of the day, we’re all Virginians. As leaders, we can cool the temperature, ease the rhetoric, and focus on finding the best solutions for the future of our Commonwealth,” Reid wrote on X.
In these times, even a quick handshake goes a long way — at the end of the day, we’re all Virginians. As leaders, we can cool the temperature, ease the rhetoric, and focus on finding the best solutions for the future of our Commonwealth.
https://t.co/YhvRa7YNxG
— John Reid (@JohnReid4VA) September 19, 2025
Reid is expected to attend a unity event with the Earle-Sears, Youngkin, and Vivek Ramaswamy, the former head of DOGE, on Friday night in Chesterfield, Virginia. Spanberger called on Earle-Sears to cancel the event due to Ramaswamy’s DOGE affiliation as a co-head with tech billionaire Elon Musk.
The Democratic Party of Virginia will also advertise a billboard slamming Earle-Sears for the event with Ramaswamy.
“The reality is, the attacks on our federal workforce are significant. Virginia has had rising unemployment rates every single month over the past eight months,” Spanberger told reporters after her speech. “Estimates are that for 2026, we will see virtually no growth in employment numbers in Virginia. The impacts of DOGE are real.”
“And Vivek Ramaswamy was the architect — original architect before, I suppose, he was DOGED by Elon Musk — the original architect of the DOGE efforts,” she added.
Earle-Sears is mobilizing endorsements and GOP support during the early voting period and ahead of the Ramaswamy event.
“The choice could not be more clear,” Earle-Sears wrote on social media. “My opponent will transform Virginia into something unrecognizable. I will champion the successes we have and continue commonsense, conservative policies.”
Trump was asked in the Oval Office on Friday whether he’d campaign for Earle-Sears in Virginia. The president said he’d consider it.