Virginia’s Next Governor 

Virginians elected our state’s first female governor yesterday: Democrat Abigail Spanberger.

She prevailed over Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, according to unofficial results. The race was called about an hour after polls closed. The Virginia Department of Elections will certify the totals later this week.

Spanberger is a former CIA intelligence officer who served three terms in Congress before running for governor. She focused on economic issues, while Earle-Sears spoke more about social issues.

Spanberger’s victory continues a longtime trend. Virginia has elected a governor from the opposite political party of the sitting U.S. president in all but one election over the past 50 years.

More Election Results

Democrat Ghazala Hashmi prevailed over Republican John Reid in the race for lieutenant governor, according to unofficial returns. She is the first Indian American and the first Muslim to win statewide office in Virginia.

In the closest statewide race, Democrat Jay Jones prevailed over Republican incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares, according to unofficial results.

Jones was dogged late in his campaign by the release of violent text messages he sent in 2022. On Election Day, Miyares encouraged voters to split their ticket between the gubernatorial and attorney general races, but still came up short.

All 100 seats in the House of Delegates were also up for grabs, and Democrats appeared to be on track to increase the 51-48 majority they held entering the election.

Defense Rests in $40 Million Shooting Trial 

The civil trial stemming from a case brought by former Newport News teacher Abigail Zwerner against former assistant principal Ebony Parker is expected to resume today with closing arguments.

Zwerner, then 25, was shot by one of her first-grade students in 2023. She is seeking $40 million in damages.

Dr. Amy Klinger, an expert in school safety, testified for the defense on Monday and said school security is a “collaborative” process, not solely the responsibility of administrators such as Parker.

“It is largely unthinkable” that a 6-year-old could have a gun, Klinger said. However, other witnesses testified they had warned Parker earlier in the day that the child might be armed.

The student’s mother was sentenced to prison in connection with the shooting. Parker, the former administrator, also faces eight counts of felony child abuse.

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➤ Charlottesville: Police are investigating who filed a false report of an “active attacker with a gun” at the University of Virginia on Monday. The hoax prompted the entire campus to go on lockdown. (Details)

➤ Portsmouth: Dominion Energy said the installation of turbine blades at its offshore wind farm is being delayed while its new ship, the Charybdis, undergoes some final upgrades. (More)

➤ Richmond: Circuit Judge Tracy Thorne-Begland declined to issue a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that would have blocked a legislative effort to redistrict congressional maps in Virginia. (Details)

➤ Richmond: The NAACP Virginia State Conference filed a lawsuit challenging what it called the unlawful rejection of voter registration applications from college students. (More)

➤ Jamaica: Members of a Virginia Task Force from Fairfax County worked to clear a school that had been blocked by fallen trees. At least 28 people were killed on the island when Hurricane Melissa made landfall last week. (More)

➤ Pearl Harbor, Hawaii: The Navy determined that Steward’s Mate 1st Class William Arthur Brown, a native of Goodview, was killed on December 4, 1945, while he was on active duty and is buried in a military cemetery. For decades, family members had been told he had been thrown overboard. (More)

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➤ UVA forward Thijs De Ridder scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the new-look men’s basketball team opened with a 87-53 win over Rider. (Details)

➤ Virginia Tech opened its men’s basketball season with a dominating win over Charleston Southern, 98-67. Richmond native Brycen Blaine played well for Charleston Southern, however, scoring a game-high 22 points. (More)

➤ UVA is ranked No. 14 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season. However, if the season were to end today, they’d make the 12-team bracket as an 11-seed. (See Full Rankings)

Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | Soccer | NCAAF | NCAAM | NCAAW

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➤ Xcelerate Solutions, a federal government contractor, more than doubled the floor space of its Tysons headquarters. (Details)

➤ Small-business owners in a building near the Virginia Beach Oceanfront have 30 months to relocate before the property is torn down and replaced with a high-rise apartment building. (More)

➤ Southwest Virginia is making a name for itself in the fine furniture business. Meet some of the artisans crafting unique pieces. (Details)

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➤ Leesburg is the home of Loudoun County’s government. Town leaders have said they want the area to be known for more than its region’s many data centers. (Details)

➤ Two state government agencies awarded almost $900,000 to increase the number of large animal veterinary services available in rural communities. The money will support seven veterinarians. (More)

➤ The Fatherhood Foundation of Virginia is seeking nominations for great dads who deserve a bit of financial help this holiday season. (More)

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Did you take a civics class in college?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not sure
4. Didn’t go to college

Tuesday’s Results:

What’s your favorite variety of BBQ? 

1. Carolina: 29%
2. Texas: 25%
3. Memphis: 23%
4. Kansas City: 23%

What was Leesburg named when it was first laid out in 1757?

Show me the answer