By Allison Brophy Champion

Former 7th District Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger has officially been named the Democratic gubernatorial nominee for Virginia.

According to a news release on Thursday from the Democratic Party of Virginia. Spanberger filed for the office on March 17 and the party has certified she met qualification criteria.

DPVA Chairman Lamont Bagby said in a statement:

“Abigail Spanberger is a true fighter for Virginia, and I’m proud to lead a party united behind her. Across the Commonwealth, we’ve seen her connect with and listen to Virginians from all walks of life. Virginians want a governor focused on the real issues: strengthening schools, keeping communities safe, protecting Virginia jobs and lowering costs.

“From now until November, Virginia Democrats will knock on more doors, make more phone calls, and have more conversations with our neighbors than ever before. We are ready for this moment, we are ready to stand up for Virginians, and we are ready to make Abigail Spanberger our next Governor,” said the party chair.

Spanberger, a three-term former House member and CIA agent, released a statement after securing the nomination to serve as the 75th Governor of Virginia, thanking her supporters.

“I look forward to having many more meaningful conversations with all Virginians — across our communities and regardless of who they’ve cast their votes for in the past — about the issues that matter most to them,” she stated.

“Virginia is my home — it’s where I grew up, and it’s where my husband and I are raising our three daughters. Virginians across the Commonwealth are telling me the issues they want their leaders to address, and I share their priorities — strengthening our public schools, making Virginia a more affordable place to live, defending our fundamental rights, keeping our communities safe, protecting Virginians’ jobs, strengthening our economy, and standing up to the chaos in Washington that is putting Virginians’ livelihoods at risk.”

Spanberger could match up against Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, the state’s lieutenant governor.

The Winsome Earle-Sears for governor campaign announced Thursday it had raised over $3.1 million in the first-quarter reporting period, more than any Republican gubernatorial candidate in Virginia history, according to a release.

Earle-Sears is slated to be in town Saturday night for the Culpeper Republican Committee’s 13th Annual Ronald Reagan Denim, Diamond & Boots Gala at Germanna Community College.

According to a fundraising email from the Spanberger campaign, “The Virginia governor’s race is one of the most competitive races in the country right now, and it’s being called a total toss-up by experts. All eyes are on us to see if we have what it takes to win this race — and set the stage for 2026 and beyond.”

According to media reports Friday morning, former State Sen. Amanda Chase submitted the paperwork within hours of the deadline to run as a Republican in the governor’s race, in the June primary against Earle-Sears.

Whoever wins in the General Election would be the first woman governor of Virginia.