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Abigail Spanberger

Abigail Spanberger

Governor of Virginia

Appears in 2 stories

Notable Quotes

"Our top priority is the safety of every Virginian. State agencies are mobilized, and we are working closely with local governments and utility partners."

"The mix of snowfall, the mix of freezing rain, sleet and then very low temperatures will make this a difficult storm to respond to and will elongate the time it will take to clear roads."

"The history and the gravity of this moment are not lost on me. I maintain an abiding sense of gratitude to those who worked, generation after generation, to ensure women could be among those casting ballots, but who could only dream of a day like today." — Inaugural address, January 17, 2026

Stories

Historic winter storm threatens 235 million as polar vortex plunges south

Force in Play

Declared state of emergency, National Guard on standby

Winter Storm Fern killed over 150 people by early February 2026, following 106 deaths on January 28. The storm brought ice and heavy snow across a 2,000-mile path from Texas to Maine, prompting President Trump to declare federal emergencies in 10+ states as peak power outages exceeded 1 million, 14,000+ flights were canceled (the worst aviation disruption since COVID-19), and wind chills dropped to minus 50°F. Fatalities came from hypothermia, traffic accidents, and ice-related incidents: Tennessee reported 29 deaths, Mississippi 28, Louisiana 8, New York City 8 people frozen outdoors, with additional deaths in Kentucky and in Texas where 3 boys drowned after falling through pond ice.

Updated May 26

Virginia swears in its first woman governor after 250 years

Rule Changes

Inaugurated January 17, 2026

For 250 years and 74 governors, Virginia had never elected a woman to its highest office, but Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA case officer, changed that on January 17, 2026. She took the oath on the Capitol steps in Richmond alongside Ghazala Hashmi, the first Muslim woman to hold statewide office in the U.S., and Jay Jones, Virginia's first Black attorney general. Within hours, she signed 10 executive orders and appointed 27 new members to public university boards, including vacancies at UVA from recent board resignations.

Updated May 21