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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 ranks among the deadliest recent U.S. winter events with over 150 confirmed fatalities across multiple states as of early February 2026, following 106 deaths reported on January 28. The storm brought crippling ice and heavy snow across a 2,000-mile path from Texas to Maine, leading President Trump to approve federal emergency declarations for at least 10 states amid over 1 million peak power outages, 14,000+ flight cancellations—the worst aviation disruption since COVID-19—and wind chills to minus 50°F. Fatalities included hypothermia, traffic accidents, and ice-related incidents, with Tennessee reporting 29 deaths, Mississippi 28, and others in states like Louisiana (8), New York City (8 frozen outdoors), Kentucky, and Texas (3 boys drowning after falling through pond ice).

Updated Feb 5

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. Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA case officer, changed that on January 17, 2026, taking the oath on the Capitol steps in Richmond alongside two other history-makers: 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 filling vacancies at UVA following recent board resignations.

Updated Jan 20