Spotsylvania Courthouse VA
1-16-2026 1:25pm

Biographies of the new Governor, LT Governor, and Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia

Photo from The Democratic Party of Virginia

Governor Abigail Davis Spanberger

Early Life and Education

  • Birth: Born Abigail Anne Davis on August 7, 1979, in Red Bank, New Jersey.
  • Upbringing: She grew up in the Short Pump area of Henrico County, Virginia, after moving there at age 13.
  • Education: She earned a B.A. in French from the University of Virginia in 2001. She later obtained an M.B.A. through a dual-degree program between Purdue University and the GISMA Business School in Germany.

Professional Career

  • Law Enforcement & Intelligence:Spanberger began her career as a federal agent with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, investigating narcotics and money laundering. In 2006, she joined the CIA as a case officer, working undercover on counterterrorism and nuclear non-proliferation cases until 2014.
  • Private Sector: After leaving the CIA, she worked in the private sector for EAB (formerly Royall & Company), an education consulting firm.
    • Private Sector: After leaving the CIA, she worked in the private sector for EAB (formerly Royall & Company), an education consulting firm.
    • U.S. House of Representatives (2019–2025): Elected in 2018, she represented Virginia's 7th Congressional District for three terms. She was a member of the "Mod Squad," a group of moderate Democratic representatives with national security backgrounds.

    Political Milestone (2025–2026)

    • Gubernatorial Election: On November 4, 2025, she defeated Republican Winsome Earle
      • with approximately 57% of the vote.
      • Historic Inauguration: Her inauguration is scheduled for noon on January 17, 2026, in Richmond. Her administration, themed "United for Virginia’s Future," plans to prioritize education affordability, public safety, and rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

      Personal Life

      • Family: She is married to her high school sweetheart, Adam Spanberger, an engineer. They have three daughters: Claire, Charlotte, and Catherine.
      • Residence: The family resides in Glen Allen, Virginia, and will move into the Virginia Executive Mansion following her inauguration.
        (From a Variety of 

LT Governor Hashmi 

  • Oath of Office: Hashmi will take her oath on her family’s Qur’an and a 1799 original version of the U.S. Constitution.
  • Succeeding: She will succeed Winsome Earle-Sears as the 43rd Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth.

Political and Professional Background

  • State Senate (2020–2025): Prior to her election as Lieutenant Governor, Hashmi represented Virginia's 15th (formerly 10th) District. She was the first Muslim elected to the Virginia State Senate.
  • Legislative Focus: During her time in the Senate, she focused on expanding access to affordable healthcare, education funding, and environmental protections.
  • Academic Career: Before entering politics, she spent 25 years as a professor and college administrator, serving as the founding director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Reynolds Community College.

Personal Life and Education

  • Early Life: Born in India in 1964, she immigrated to the U.S. with her family as a child and grew up in Georgia.
  • Education: She earned her B.A. in English from Georgia Southern University and holds a Ph.D. in English from Emory University.
  • Family: She lives in Chesterfield County with her husband, Azhar Rafiq, and they have two daughters.
  • (From a variety of sources) 

Attorney General Jay Jones 

Professional Background

  • Virginia House of Delegates (2018–2022):Jones represented the 89th District(Norfolk), occupying the same seat previously held by his father, Jerrauld C. Jones.
  • Legal Experience: He served as an Assistant Attorney General for the District of Columbia, focusing on consumer protection. Before his legal career, he worked in risk management at Goldman Sachs in New York
  • Education: He earned a B.A. in government and history from the College of William & Mary (2010) and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law (2015).

Personal Life

  • Family: Jones is married to Mavis Baah; they have two sons and reside in Norfolk.
  • Legacy: He comes from a prominent Norfolk family of civil rights leaders and judges; his grandfather, Hilary H. Jones Jr., was the first Black member of the Norfolk School Board.
  • (From a Variety of Sources) 
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