See below for video and highlights from the inauguration of Abigail Spanberger as the 75th governor (and the first woman governor!) of Virginia , along with Ghazala Hashmi as Lt. Governor (the first Muslim woman elected to statewide office in America), and Jay Jones as Attorney General (and first African-American Virginia Attorney General). So lots of “firsts,” and also just a major upgrade from what we had the past four years. Also, of course, Democrats will also have a governing “trifecta” (governorship, State Senate and House of Delegates majorities) for the first time since 2020-2021. So hopefully, Democrats will get a lot done to move Virginia forward.
Of course, the challenges facing Virginia are great, particularly given the Trump administration’s war on the federal government/workforce, as well as the Trump administration’s attacks on offshore wind (even as data centers gobble up a massive – and rapidly increasing – amount of power), its demonization of immigrants and transgender people, its interference with universities’ academic freedom and independence, its insane ideas and policies on vaccines and healthcare in general, etc, etc. Plus, of course, Spanberger campaigned on “affordability,” so she’ll need to deliver in that area, although of course the VAST majority of factors fueling inflation are national and international in scope, thus not particularly amenable to action by a single state. We’ll see what can be done on that front (I’ll definitely be interested to see what executive orders Spanberger issues on day #1, plus of course legislation this session).
So, bottom line, I’d say I’m feeling a mixture of optimism along with a full realization of the serious challenges we’re facing. But for today, I’m just going to celebrate the fact that the past four years of bad governance by Youngkin, Earle-Sears and Miyares are ending, and that a new era is beginning. Good luck to Spanberger, Hashmi and Jones in their new jobs, and congratulations!
Source: Dave Parrish Photography
