ABC News projects Democrat Abigail Spanberger will win the closely watched governor's race, besting Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and becoming the first woman elected governor of Virginia.

Results timing: In 2024, 87 percent of votes were reported by midnight on election night, and 96 percent were reported by noon the next day. A small share of voters cast ballots by mail, which must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within three days.

Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears to become the first woman to lead Virginia.

As the polls closed on Tuesday across Virginia, it quickly became clear it was a night of firsts: Voters overwhelmingly elected a slate of candidates who broke race and gender barriers in contests considered among the most consequential nationally.

In Virginia, voters have a mix of local concerns and national topics on their minds. One October survey from the Wason Center for Civic Leadership at Christopher Newport University found that likely voters were in particular thinking about democracy,

Virginia's biggest counties delivered Spanberger's double-digit victory, which saw her making strong gains in suburban areas.

See live results from the 2025 Virginia Lieutenant Governor election. Track vote counts and updates as polls close on Election Day.

Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat and former Virginia congresswoman, has for months been favored over her Republican opponent, Winsome Earle-Sears, the current lieutenant governor. But a texting scandal involving the Democratic candidate for attorney general has added a degree of unpredictability in the race’s final weeks.