Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) said Virginia residents “thoroughly support” his administration’s work on Wednesday morning, a day after state Republicans experienced a rough loss on election night.
Democratic Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger, a former House lawmaker, swiftly won Virginia’s 2025 gubernatorial election, beating Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears by roughly 15%. Virginia Democrats also made massive gains in the state House of Delegates, gaining 13 new seats in addition to the 51 seats they already had.
The Earle-Sears campaign, endorsed by Youngkin last year, pushed the motto, “Let’s keep a good thing going,” referring to the sitting governor’s work. A reporter asked Youngkin if most voters don’t back his work as governor in response to Earle-Sears’s double-digit loss, to which Youngkin said he believes state residents believe Virginia is “heading in the right direction.”
“So, bottom line is more jobs, safer communities, excellence in education, making sure that we are taking care of your money because it is your money. We’ve run $10 billion in surpluses and we’ve had $9 billion in tax relief,” Youngkin said.
Youngkin also said the government shutdown, currently on its 36th day, was a “very big challenge” ahead of the Virginia elections. He said the state is home to 330,000 workers who aren’t getting paid amid the shutdown, and encouraged the Senate to reopen the government.
Youngkin congratulated Spanberger on winning the election on Tuesday night and said he is “committed” to working with her transition team ahead of her inauguration in January. He also gave his thanks to Earle-Sears, Republican lieutenant governor candidate John Reid, and sitting Attorney General Jason Miyares for their work on their campaigns.
WHO IS ABIGAIL SPANBERGER? MEET VIRGINIA’S DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR-ELECT
Spanberger celebrated her win as “Commonwealth over chaos” in her victory speech. She also called for her supporters to respect Earle-Sears as she completes her time as lieutenant governor.
In her concession speech, Earle-Sears said that she left a voicemail for Spanberger and asked the governor-elect to “consider all of us Virginians.”
The Virginia gubernatorial election is one of many losses the Republican Party experienced Tuesday night. Chris LaCivita, a former Republican National Committee executive and Trump ally, said on X that “a Bad candidate and Bad campaign have consequences,” and said the Virginia gubernatorial race is “example number 1.”