January 1, Virginia Swears In First Female Governor

Wyatt’s Take

• Virginia has its first female governor ever.
• Democrat Abigail Spanberger took office with ceremony and tradition.
• Her message was about unity and honoring old Virginia values.

Virginia’s history has turned a page with a woman taking the top job for the first time in more than two centuries. Abigail Spanberger was sworn in at the State Capitol in Richmond, making it official at noon in front of supporters and leaders.

She started her career as a CIA officer before becoming a member of Congress, and now she’s the state’s 75th governor after beating her Republican challenger last year. Spanberger referred to the state’s founding fathers and called on everyone to pull together, highlighting the line,

“United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs.”

She celebrated Doug Wilder, Virginia’s first African-American governor, who was there at age 95. The event followed old traditions, with men in coats and top hats and Spanberger wearing all white—a nod to the fight for women’s right to vote.

From now on, Spanberger will be addressed as “Madam Governor” and sometimes “her excellency”—a big change since no woman has ever led Virginia since it became a state in 1776. She told the crowd,

“I am honored to serve as the 75th Governor of Virginia. It is with a profound sense of duty to all Virginians that I assume the Governorship and pledge myself to work tirelessly on behalf of our Commonwealth — our home.”

It’s a fresh start, but Virginians will be watching to see if her promises match her actions.

Wyatt Matters

Leadership rooted in tradition reminds us of the values that built our communities—hard work, family, and unity. It’s a moment of history, but what matters most is whether Main Street folks see real results.

Full story here