Fox Information Voter Ballot: How Spanberger gained Virginia governor

[ad_1] Democrats sweep Virginia races Fox Information co-anchor Sandra Smith dives into the tales that outlined election leads to Virginia throughout Fox Information particular election protection.

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Democrat Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears to win the Virginia governor’s race, tallying vital leads amongst dependable Democratic teams whereas capitalizing on financial worries and the deep unpopularity of President Donald Trump within the state.

Spanberger would be the first lady to carry the workplace within the Previous Dominion State.

The previous Virginia congresswoman replaces term-limited Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin, who was the primary Republican to win a statewide election in Virginia in 12 years when he was elected in 2021. That race stunned many in that it was a lot nearer than the 2020 presidential race the 12 months earlier than, the place Biden defeated Trump by 10 factors. This 12 months it was the opposite method round, with Spanberger properly exceeding the 2024 presidential margin that noticed Harris over Trump by solely six factors.

Trump was undoubtedly an element within the race, regardless that he wasn’t on the poll. Shut to 6 in ten Virginia voters disapproved of the job he's doing, whereas greater than half stated they strongly disapprove. The overwhelming majority of those voters backed Spanberger.

ABIGAIL SPANBERGER SEALS HISTORIC VIRGINIA WIN, ENDING GOP’S GLENN YOUNGKIN ERA

Two-thirds of Spanberger supporters stated their vote was expressly to point out opposition to the president. That compares to about one-third of these backing present Lt. Governor Earle-Sears who stated theirs was to point out assist.

Except for these sending a sign of opposition to Trump, Spanberger’s sturdy enchantment to Black voters, faculty graduates and the younger was greater than sufficient to offset Earle-Sears’ power amongst White males, White evangelicals and people with no faculty diploma, in accordance with near-final knowledge from the Fox News Voter Poll , a survey of greater than 4,000 Virginia voters.

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/672/378/fox-news-voter-poll-how-spanberger-won-virginia-governor.png?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/1344/756/fox-news-voter-poll-how-spanberger-won-virginia-governor.png?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/931/523/fox-news-voter-poll-how-spanberger-won-virginia-governor.png?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/1862/1046/fox-news-voter-poll-how-spanberger-won-virginia-governor.png?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Abigail Spanberger’s sturdy enchantment to Black voters, faculty graduates and the younger was greater than sufficient to offset Winsome Earle-Sears’ power amongst White males, White evangelicals and people with no faculty diploma. (Fox Information)

Not even the prospect of voting for the primary Black lady governor of any state appeared to maneuver Black voters, who backed Spanberger by a few 9 to 1 margin.

Spanberger additionally benefited from a big gender hole. Certainly, 65% of girls backed her in comparison with 35% for Earle-Sears, a 30-point benefit; and males supported Earle-Sears by 4 factors (48% for Spanberger, 52% Earle-Sears) – leaving a gender hole of 34 factors, one of many largest in current reminiscence.

<source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/931/523/fox-news-poll-how-spanberger-won-virginia-governor.png?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/1862/1046/fox-news-poll-how-spanberger-won-virginia-governor.png?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Abigail Spanberger loved 65% of girls backing her in comparison with 35% for Winsome Earle-Sears. (Fox Information)

Males supported Winsome Earle-Sears by 4 factors. (Fox Information)

Neither occasion may be very in style within the state, half of voters stated they've an unfavorable opinion of Democrats, and greater than half felt that method about Republicans.

Between the 2 candidates, nevertheless, Spanberger garnered a net-positive score – greater than half had a good opinion of her – in comparison with Sears, and greater than half considered her unfavorably.

Voters proceed to be proud of Youngkin. Greater than half accepted of the job he's doing as governor.

The highest attribute Virginia voters wished in a candidate was somebody who shares their values, adopted by somebody who's sincere and reliable.

Values voters broke for Earle-Sears whereas Spanberger carried these searching for honesty.

Spanberger focused heavily on the economy through the marketing campaign, particularly banging residence the deleterious results that Trump administration efforts to upend authorities in DC are having on Virginia, residence to numerous federal employees.

Greater than six in ten of these federal workers backed Spanberger.

The financial system was by far the highest challenge for Virginia voters – with near half rating it as crucial. These voters broke considerably for Spanberger.

Healthcare was the second most vital concern – one other challenge Spanberger hit onerous within the wake of the federal authorities shutdown and other people going through the doable lack of well being advantages.

These voters who stated healthcare was their primary challenge went overwhelmingly for Spanberger – by about 4 to 1.

General, Virginia voters – about six in ten – suppose the financial system is doing fairly properly. These voters backed Earle-Sears.

However on the subject of their very own household’s funds, most stated they have been both holding regular or falling behind. Each of these teams went for Spanberger.

And of the six in ten voters who stated the federal price range cuts had affected their household funds, they backed Spanberger as properly.

Two points that acquired vital consideration from Earle-Sears within the marketing campaign have been controversies about trans rights, and the disclosure of violent texts from the Democratic candidate for Legal professional Common.

Fewer than half of voters discovered the texts despatched by Democrat Jay Jones, threatening a fellow lawmaker, disqualifying from the job of legal professional normal. Those that did broke strongly for Earle-Sears.

Fewer than half of voters discovered the texts despatched by Democrat Jay Jones, threatening a fellow lawmaker, disqualifying from the job of legal professional normal. (Fox Information)

The remainder, although – who stated the texts have been regarding however not disqualifying, weren't a priority, or who merely didn’t know sufficient – went strongly for Spanberger.

It was suspected that some voters may cut up their votes, backing Spanberger for governor however Republican Jason Miyares for legal professional normal. That didn't occur. These Democrats defecting to Miyares remained within the single digits, and Jones was declared the winner.

Voters who stated Jay Jones' texts have been regarding however not disqualifying, weren't a priority, or who merely didn’t know sufficient went strongly for Abigail Spanberger. (Fox Information)

On transgender rights, voters have combined views. Half stated assist has gone too far – the place Earle-Sears took, with particular emphasis on its impact on colleges and women’ sports activities. The opposite half, nevertheless, stated assist has not gone far sufficient, or it’s been about proper.

SPANBERGER SAYS VIRGINIA 'CHOSE PRAGMATISM OVER PARTISANSHIP' IN VICTORY SPEECH

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/672/378/fox-news-poll-how-spanberger-won-virginia-governor-election.png?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/1344/756/fox-news-poll-how-spanberger-won-virginia-governor-election.png?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/931/523/fox-news-poll-how-spanberger-won-virginia-governor-election.png?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/1862/1046/fox-news-poll-how-spanberger-won-virginia-governor-election.png?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> On transgender rights, voters have combined views. (Fox Information)

Those that stated it'd gone too far backed Earle-Sears by virtually 4 to 1, whereas those that disagreed went onerous for Spanberger.

Ultimately, the headwinds of Trump’s unpopularity and the ire of the huge variety of federal employees within the state was an excessive amount of for Earle-Sears to beat.

Solely a few third of Virginia voters are proud of the course the nation goes, and whereas these voters overwhelmingly backed Earle-Sears, the opposite two-thirds went huge for Spanberger. Of the 4 in ten who're truly offended about how issues are going, virtually all of them – greater than 9 in ten – backed Spanberger.

Requested about Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts, greater than half say it has gone too far, and, maybe not surprisingly, most of those voters backed Spanberger.

Virtually all Democrats voted for Spanberger, as did a number of Republicans. Earle-Sears was unable to generate any form of crossover enchantment, whereas successful most Republicans. The small group of independents favored Spanberger.

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Methodology

The Fox Information Voter Ballot relies on a survey carried out by SSRS with Virginia registered voters. This survey was carried out October 22 to November 4, 2025, concluding on the finish of voting on Election Day. The ballot combines knowledge collected from registered voters on-line and by phone with knowledge collected in-person from Election Day voters at 30 precincts per state/metropolis. Within the remaining step, all of the pre-election survey respondents and Election Day exit ballot respondents are mixed by adjusting the share of voting mode (absentee, early-in-person, and Election Day) primarily based on the estimated composition of the state/metropolis’s remaining citizens. As soon as votes are counted, the survey outcomes are additionally weighted to match the general leads to every state. Outcomes amongst greater than 4,500 Virginia voters interviewed have an estimated margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.1 proportion factors, together with the design results. The error margin is bigger amongst subgroups.