Looks like the Democrats just got their candidate for the Virginia Governor race

The Democratic Party made serious gains in the 2023 Virginia state legislature races this past week. It helped to partially neuter Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin for his final two years in office. It also made clear that the Democrats can win the race for Governor of Virginia in 2025. To that end, things are now moving fast.

House Democrat Abigail Spanberger announced to constituents last night that she’s retiring from Congress at the end of 2024 so she can mount a campaign for Governor of Virginia in 2025. This is a big deal. She was on track for likely reelection in the House. But she’s giving that up, suggesting that she truly thinks she’s going to win. And she’s making this decision a full two years before the 2025 election, meaning she’s playing the long game here.

It’s not clear what will happen on the Republican side of the race for Governor. Virginia has an odd rule preventing an incumbent Governor from running for a second consecutive term, so Youngkin will be out. The Republicans will have to come up with a new candidate.

As far as Spanberger’s House seat in 2024, Cook had that race rated “Likely Democrat” when she was still expected to be the candidate. Now that she’s out of the race and there’s no incumbency advantage, it’s possible that the VA-07 House district will be more competitive, and we may have to saddle up in order to win it. But so be it. And now we’re in a position to get behind Spanberger’s candidacy for Governor of Virginia two years in advance. Let’s go win it all!