• Press Release

EMILYs List Statement on Democratic Women Securing a Governing Majority in Virginia

November 4, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight Virginia voters made history by electing Abigail Spanberger as governor, Ghazala Hashmi as lieutenant governor, and a new Democratic majority in the House of Delegates. As Americans suffer from the fallout of Republicans’ reckless agenda, these historic results make one thing clear: Voters are looking to Democratic women to lead the way forward.

EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler released the following statement:

“Tonight, Virginia voters sent a powerful message to the rest of the country: When women are on the ballot, Democrats win. From the governor’s mansion to the lieutenant governor’s office to the House of Delegates, voters chose bold women leaders who understand the struggles Virginians face every day — and who are ready to lower costs, protect health care, and defend freedom. Building on decades of deep engagement in Virginia, EMILYs List’s work this cycle was centered on securing this governing majority anchored by Democratic women. These wins are both a blueprint for how Democrats can take back power in 2026 and beyond, and a model for the future of Democratic leadership.”

EMILYs List congratulates the following Democratic women on their decisive victories up and down the ballot in Virginia: 

  • Abigail Spanberger, Governor of Virginia
  • Ghazala Hashmi, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
  • Elizabeth Guzmán, Virginia state Delegate (VA-HD22)
  • May Nivar, Virginia state Delegate (VA-HD57) 
  • Leslie Mehta, Virginia state Delegate (VA-HD73)
  • Kimberly Pope Adams, Virginia state Delegate (VA-HD82)

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EMILYs List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, works to elect Democratic pro-choice women up and down the ballot and across the country with a goal of fighting for our rights and our communities. Over 40 years, EMILYs List has raised nearly $950 million to help Democratic women win competitive elections by recruiting and training candidates, supporting and helping build strong campaigns, researching the issues that impact women and families, running one of the most impactful independent expenditure operations for Democrats, and turning out women voters to the polls. Since our founding in 1985, we have helped elect the country’s first woman as vice president, 192 women to the House, 29 to the Senate, 20 governors, and over 1,600 women to state and local office. More than 40% of the candidates EMILYs List has helped elect to Congress have been women of color. Visit www.emilyslist.org for more information.