Tuesday is primary day in Virginia — but the general election matchup for the commonwealth’s highest office is already set

November's winner will make history as the first female governor of Virginia: Abigail Spanberger for the Democrats or Winsome Earle-Sears for the GOP

Abigail Spanberger opened her general election bid for Virginia governor Wednesday using her high school alma mater near Richmond.“I grew up walking the halls of Tucker High School,” the former congresswoman says as she walks past a bank of lockers in her first ad since securing the Democratic nomination.

We still don't officially know who the Democrats' lieutenant governor candidate is. Why it matters: It's the hottest race on the 2025 primary ticket, and includes two Richmond-area locals. Driving the news: As of Wednesday morning,

Two women, Democratic former Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, will lead their parties in the fight for the governor’s mansion and control of state government this November.

This fall’s gubernatorial race in Virginia will make history no matter the winner: Either Democrat Abigail Spanberger or Republican Winsome Earle-Sears will become the state’s first elected female governor.

Virginia holds its primary election. The contest is a barometer for how Virginians, and maybe Americans, feel about the Trump administration ahead of the 2026 midterms.