Outlining her plans and hopes for Virginia before the General Assembly, Gov. Abigail Spanberger started with a note about milestones — the state’s first first gentleman, the first Muslim woman elected as lieutenant governor, the first African American attorney general — along with thoughts about the election that brought them, and her, to break that new ground.
Standing in front of Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi, House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, and Senate President Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, Gov. Abigail Spanberger addresses a joint assembly of the House of Delegates and state Senate on Monday afternoon.
Gov. Spanberger addresses a joint session of the General Assembly on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
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Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s parents, Eileen and Martin Davis, sit in the gallery at the Virginia state Capitol as their daughter addresses a joint assembly Monday.
Attorney General Jay Jones embraces Secretary of the Commonwealth Candi Mundon-King before Gov. Abigail Spanberger's address.
Gov. Spanberger addresses a joint session of the General Assembly on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger arrives Monday at a joint assembly session to give an address at the Virginia state Capitol.
Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi arrives at a joint assembly meeting before Gov. Abigail Spanberger gives an address at the Virginia state Capitol.
Gov. Spanberger addresses a joint session of the General Assembly on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, speaks to reporters following Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s address to the joint assembly Monday.
Photos: Gov. Spanberger address a joint session of the General Assembly
Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi arrives at a joint assembly meeting before Gov. Abigail Spanberger gives an address at the Virginia state Capitol.
Attorney General Jay Jones, seen in January, promised Friday to "immediately appeal" Friday's ruling by a Tazewell County judge to issue a temporary restraining order to block the April 21 referendum.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger arrives Monday at a joint assembly session to give an address at the Virginia state Capitol.
Governor Abigail Spanberger arrives at a joint assembly session to give an address in the Virginia State Capitol Building in Richmond, Va., Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Standing in front of Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi, House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, and Senate President Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, Gov. Abigail Spanberger addresses a joint assembly of the House of Delegates and state Senate on Monday afternoon.
Governor Abigail Spanberger addresses a joint assembly session in the Virginia State Capitol Building in Richmond, Va., Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger addresses a joint assembly session in the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Va., on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Governor Abigail Spanberger addresses a joint assembly session in the Virginia State Capitol Building in Richmond, Va., Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger addresses a joint assembly of the state Senate and House of Delegates at the Capitol in Richmond, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Governor Abigail Spanberger addresses a joint assembly session in the Virginia State Capitol Building in Richmond, Va., Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Governor Abigail Spanberger arrives at a joint assembly session to give an address in the Virginia State Capitol Building in Richmond, Va., Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Governor Abigail Spanberger arrives at a joint assembly session to give an address in the Virginia State Capitol Building in Richmond, Va., Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger, seen Jan. 19, has previously voiced her support for legislation that would let voters in each Virginia locality decide whether they want to impose an extra tax on themselves to pay for school construction.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger looks on before her speech to a joint assembly in the Virginia state Capitol on Jan. 19.
Attorney General Jay Jones embraces Secretary of the Commonwealth Candi Mundon-King before Gov. Abigail Spanberger's address.
Sen. Russet Perry, D-Loudon, walks through the Capitol Building before Gov. Abigail Spanberger addresses a joint assembly, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond, left, and Del. Lindsey Dougherty, D-Chesterfield, walk through the Capitol Building before Gov. Abigail Spanberger addresses a joint assembly on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, reacts with other Republicans as Gov. Abigail Spanberger addresses a joint assembly, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
First Gentleman Adam Spanberger waves before Gov. Abigail Spanberger addresses a joint assembly, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s parents, Eileen and Martin Davis, sit in the gallery at the Virginia state Capitol as their daughter addresses a joint assembly Monday.
Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, speaks to reporters following Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s address to the joint assembly on Jan. 19. "We'll have to see what action our colleagues across the aisle take on it, but the judge's order is very clear," he said Wednesday.
Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, speaks to the media following Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s address to the joint assembly, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, speaks to the media following Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s address to the joint assembly, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, speaks to reporters following Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s address to the joint assembly Monday.
