The Associated Press projects former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger will win the Virginia gubernatorial election, setting her up to become the state's first female governor after defeating current Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears.

Spanberger — who was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 Democratic "wave" that saw suburban women carry several Democrats to victory — flipped a seat this time that is held by current Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Unlike most states, Virginia limits governors to one four-year term — meaning Youngkin was not eligible for reelection.

On the campaign trail, Spanberger largely focused on so-called kitchen table issues like affordability and appealed directly to Virginia's nearly 150,000 federal workers who have be

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