Abigail Spanberger facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids

Abigail Spanberger

Official portrait, 2023

Governor-elect of Virginia

Assuming office
January 17, 2026

[[Lieutenant Governor-elect of Virginia|Lieutenant]]

Ghazala Hashmi (elect)

Succeeding

Glenn Youngkin

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 7th district

In office
January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2025

Preceded by

Dave Brat

Succeeded by

Eugene Vindman

Personal details

Born

Abigail Anne Davis

August 7, 1979 (age 46)
Red Bank, New Jersey, U.S.

Political party

Democratic

Spouse

Adam Spanberger

Children

Education

University of Virginia (BA)
Purdue University (MBA)

Signature

Abigail Spanberger
Allegiance	United States
Active	2006–2014
Rank	Operations officer

Abigail Anne Davis Spanberger (born August 7, 1979) is an American politician. She was an intelligence officer before becoming a public servant. As of November 4, 2025, she was elected the Governor of Virginia. She is a member of the Democratic Party. Before becoming governor, she served as a U.S. Representative for Virginia's 7th district from 2019 to 2025. When she takes office, she will be the first woman to serve as Virginia's governor.

Her Early Life and Education
Images for kids
See also

Her Early Life and Education

Abigail Spanberger was born in Red Bank, New Jersey, on August 7, 1979. Her father was a police officer, and her mother was a nurse. When she was 13, her family moved to Short Pump, Virginia, near Richmond. Her father started working in federal law enforcement for the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Abigail went to John Randolph Tucker High School. She also worked as a page for U.S. Senator Chuck Robb. She later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia. She also completed a Master of Business Administration from a program involving Purdue University and a school in Germany.

Her Career Journey

In the early 2000s, Abigail Spanberger was a substitute English teacher. She also worked as a postal inspector.

Working for the CIA

In 2006, Abigail joined the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). She worked as an operations officer. Her job involved gathering important information about global security. She focused on topics like preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and understanding threats. In 2014, she left the CIA. She then worked in the private business sector. In 2017, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed her to the Virginia Fair Housing Board. This board helps ensure fair housing for everyone.

Serving in Congress

In July 2017, Abigail Spanberger decided to run for the United States House of Representatives. She ran for Virginia's 7th district against the Republican incumbent, Dave Brat. She decided to run after a vote in the House about healthcare. In June 2018, she won the Democratic primary election. Her campaign raised more money than her opponent's.

In the November 2018 general election, Spanberger won by over 6,800 votes. She became the first Democrat to win this seat in a long time. She and some colleagues were known as the "mod squad" for their moderate political views.

In 2020, Spanberger ran for reelection against Nick Freitas. It was a very close race, but she won with 51% of the votes. After this election, she shared her thoughts on the Democratic Party's election strategy. She suggested that the party should be careful about how it talks about certain economic ideas and discussions about changing police funding.

In 2022, her district boundaries changed. Even though her home was no longer in the district, she ran for reelection and won. She defeated Republican Yesli Vega, who was supported by Governor Glenn Youngkin and former president Donald Trump.

Key Moments in Congress

During her time in Congress, Spanberger often voted differently from President Trump. In 2019, she joined other Democrats in calling for an investigation into President Trump's actions. She believed his actions did not follow his oath of office. In 2020, she criticized Trump's response to protests against police brutality. She was concerned about how peaceful protestors were treated.

Spanberger sometimes disagreed with President Biden's immigration policies. However, she supported many bills and resolutions in the House that Biden backed. In a November 2021 interview, she said people elected Biden to be "normal" and stop chaos. She also noted that Democrats had not paid enough attention to inflation.

Committee Roles and Groups

Spanberger worked on several important committees in Congress. These included the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. She also chaired the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

She was part of various groups in Congress. These included the LGBT Equality Caucus, the New Democrat Coalition, and the Problem Solvers Caucus.

Becoming Governor of Virginia

In November 2023, Spanberger announced she would not run for Congress again. Instead, she decided to run for governor of Virginia in the 2025 election. She secured the Democratic nomination in April 2025. On November 4, 2025, Abigail Spanberger won as Governor of Virginia against her opponent Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears.

In May 2025, Spanberger stated she would not sign a bill to fully repeal Virginia's right-to-work law. She has also focused on immigration, aiming to change some policies from the previous governor. She supports rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which helps reduce greenhouse gases.

Her Views on Important Issues

Abigail Spanberger describes herself as a "passionate pragmatist." This means she focuses on practical solutions. She is known for being a moderate Democrat.

Economy and Jobs

Spanberger has criticized past tax cuts for corporations. She believes they could increase the national debt. She supported the USMCA trade deal.

She voted against a large stimulus package during the COVID-19 pandemic. She felt it went too far beyond pandemic relief. She also worked to protect a program that helps reduce prescription medication costs. Spanberger supports banning members of Congress from trading stocks. She wants lawmakers and their families to put their assets in a blind trust.

Education for All

Spanberger's "Strengthening Virginia Schools Plan" aims to make higher education more affordable. She wants to make it easier for high school students to take college-level courses. She believes teachers should be fairly paid and manage their curriculum without political interference. She also supports teaching Virginia's full history.

Protecting Our Environment

Spanberger calls climate change a major threat to our economy and way of life. She believes in supporting science to address environmental issues. She has asked the government to be a global leader on environmental matters.

She has called the Green New Deal a "bold compilation of ideas." However, she criticized it for including unrelated policies. She stated, "Overall I am not a supporter of the Green New Deal."

Keeping Communities Safe

Spanberger supports new versions of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. She also favors requiring background checks for private gun sales. She supports a ban on devices that increase a gun's firing speed.

Healthcare for Families

Spanberger supports the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). She also supports a public option for healthcare. She believes reducing the cost of prescription drugs is a top priority for families.

She sponsored a bill requiring pharmacy benefit managers to publicize drug discounts. This bill passed the House unanimously. She also supported a bill that allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices directly.

Immigration Policies

Spanberger opposed past travel restrictions from certain countries. She believes they could make the U.S. seem anti-Muslim. She supports stronger border security but not a wall. She voted for funding for border technology and more border protection officers.

She does not support "sanctuary cities." However, she believes the term can distract from real concerns. Spanberger calls for a way for undocumented immigrants to gain legal status if they follow laws, work, and pay taxes.

Her Personal Life

Abigail Spanberger is married to Adam Spanberger, who is an engineer. They have three daughters. In 2014, her family moved to Henrico County. They live in Glen Allen, Virginia. She is a Protestant.

Images for kids

Spanberger speaking at a campaign rally in 2018
Spanberger during the 116th Congress
Spanberger's gubernatorial campaign logo