Rep. Abigail Spanberger to Run for Virginia Governor, Forgoes House Re-election

Spanberger's early announcement, two years ahead of the 2025 election, shakes up both the gubernatorial race and the contest for her competitive House seat.

• Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), a former CIA operative, will not seek re-election for her House seat and is planning to run for Virginia governor in 2025, according to sources.
• Spanberger's early announcement, two years ahead of the 2025 election, is a particularly early entrance and makes her the first to enter the race.
• Spanberger's decision to run for governor leaves her competitive House seat open, giving Democrats more time to recruit candidates for the 7th District.
• Potential candidates to replace Spanberger in the House include state Del. Elizabeth Guzman, state Sen. Jeremy McPike, former Del. Hala Ayala, and former National Security Council deputy legal adviser Yevgeny Vindman.
• Spanberger's departure from the House presents Republicans with a key pickup opportunity to expand their slim majority in the next election.

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