Democrats Win Virginia and New Jersey Governorships as Spanberger, Sherrill Prevail

Overview

• Abigail Spanberger defeated Winsome Earle-Sears to become Virginia’s first woman governor, succeeding Republican Glenn Youngkin.
• In New Jersey, Rep. Mikie Sherrill beat Jack Ciattarelli to succeed Democrat Phil Murphy, delivering the party a third consecutive term for the first time since the 1960s.
• Both Democrats centered their campaigns on economic concerns and tied their opponents to President Trump, with Barack Obama rallying supporters days before Election Day.
• Turnout surpassed 2021 levels in both states, and the New Jersey race was especially close and set spending records.
• Democrats emphasized federal issues affecting each state, including threats to dismiss government workers and a freeze on Hudson River tunnel funding, as analysts caution that the results’ implications for 2026 remain uncertain.