The 2025 Virginia governor’s race will be remembered as the election that ushered in the first woman to the commonwealth’s highest office. Republican candidate and current Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears is facing off against former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee.
Spanberger and Earle-Sears will participate in a live debate at 7 p.m. October 9 at Norfolk State University. This is the first and only debate of the Virginia gubernatorial race, with just under one month left until election day. The debate will be broadcast on WDVM-TV/WDCW-TV and at dcnewsnow.com.
Early voting in Virginia runs through Saturday, November 1. Election day is November 4.
Both major-party contenders are barrier-breakers in their own right. Earle-Sears is the first woman to serve as Virginia’s lieutenant governor and the first Black woman elected to statewide office in the commonwealth. Spanberger was the first woman to represent Virginia’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as the first Democrat in more than half a century to hold that seat.
This closely watched contest — seen by many as a potential bellwether for national midterm elections — features two candidates with sharply contrasting backgrounds.
Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears
Earle-Sears, 61, was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and immigrated to the U.S. at age 6. In 1983, she joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where she served three years as an electrician. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Old Dominion University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Regent University. Her education helped pave the way for a successful business career.
Community service has long been a priority for Earle-Sears, who says she is most proud of her work as director of a women’s homeless shelter. Next came her political aspirations — in 2002, she was elected to a majority Black House of Delegates district, a first for a Virginia Republican since 1865. In addition to her various appointments, she has served as vice president of the Virginia State Board of Education, as a presidential appointee to the U.S. Census Bureau, and on the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans to the secretary of Veterans Affairs.
In Her Own Words
Earle-Sears says her family’s example impacted her future goals.
“My grandmother has always been my greatest political influence because in Jamaica, where I was born, I watched her help those who were not able to help themselves and, at the same time, engage political leaders. She wanted political leaders to know they were answerable to us, the people!”
Next, the lieutenant governor hopes to step into the role of Virginia’s governor. “I want to continue Virginia’s success by lowering taxes, keeping us safe, and creating jobs,” she says.
Married with two adult daughters, Earle-Sears has advice for other young women considering a political career: “I would advise a young girl considering entering politics to learn the importance of having a very thick skin, so that she can weather the insults and other storms that are certainly coming her way,” says Earle-Sears. “She must know that in politics, this is normal. And that this is not a glamorous life, but, instead, is a life of service in a very public way.”
Former U.S. Representative Spanberger
Virginia-raised Spanberger, 46, is running for governor on the Democratic ticket. She attended the University of Virginia and received an MBA through a dual-degree program between Purdue University and GISMA Business School in Germany.
After college, Spanberger worked with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on federal narcotics and money-laundering cases, collaborating with law enforcement to investigate child predators. She later joined the Central Intelligence Agency as a case officer, working undercover to track transnational criminal organizations, prevent terrorist attacks, and counter nuclear proliferation. After moving to the private sector, Spanberger was elected to represent Virginia’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House from 2019 to 2025.
In Her Own Words
“Service to our communities, to our country, and to our commonwealth was instilled in me at an early age,” Spanberger says. “I was raised with the understanding that if you see something wrong, you do everything in your power to fix it. I ran for Congress because, at the time, my representative voted to eliminate health care coverage for people like my neighbors.”
Spanberger continues her political career with a run for Virginia governor. “Now, when I think of the challenges facing Virginia — from threats to Virginia’s workforce and economy to rising costs for families across our commonwealth — these challenges can be addressed most immediately and most impactfully at the state level,” she says.
Married with three school-age daughters, Spanberger also offers advice to youth considering a political career: “For the last decade, young people have been a driving force behind electoral victories in Virginia. Using your voice to effect change is important. What we all do — whether knocking on doors, talking to classmates, or engaging with neighbors — matters. Listening to people in your community, whether you agree or disagree, is essential to understanding their concerns and finding common ground. I would advise every young Virginian to engage in the political process at every level and always seek ways to work with neighbors toward solutions.”
Feature image courtesy Winsome For Governor (Earle-Sears); Abigail Spanberger (Spanberger)
This story originally ran in our October issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
