Virginia's New Governor Spanberger Faces Backlash From the Right

Abigail Spanberger's swift actions in office spark criticism from conservatives

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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In her first weeks as governor of Virginia, Abigail Spanberger has taken several bold actions that have drawn fierce criticism from the political right. Spanberger, a former CIA officer and centrist Democrat, ended cooperation agreements between state law enforcement and ICE, signed a bill to redraw the state's congressional districts, and demanded the resignations of several University of Virginia board members. Conservative pundits and activists have lashed out, calling Spanberger a 'witch,' 'Bond villain,' and 'dangerous' for her moves to 'radicalize and change the state.' However, Spanberger sees the backlash as a sign that she poses a threat to Republicans after winning the governorship in a landslide.

Why it matters

Spanberger's swift actions in her first months as governor highlight the partisan divide in Virginia and the challenges facing moderate Democrats who seek to govern in a polarized political environment. Her decisions on issues like immigration and redistricting have angered conservatives and sparked a fierce rhetorical battle, raising questions about bipartisanship and the ability of centrist Democrats to enact their agenda.

The details

In her first weeks as governor, Spanberger ended all cooperation agreements between Virginia's state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She also signed a bill for an April vote on redrawing Virginia's political map ahead of the fall midterms, which could give Democrats an edge in 10 of the state's 11 congressional districts compared to their current 6-to-5 margin. Additionally, Spanberger demanded and received the resignations of five University of Virginia board members who had participated in a Trump-backed effort to remove the university's president, largely due to his diversity initiatives.

  • Spanberger signed the bill for the April vote on redistricting in her first weeks as governor.
  • Spanberger ended the state's cooperation agreements with ICE in her first weeks as governor.

The players

Abigail Spanberger

The newly elected Democratic governor of Virginia, a former CIA officer who campaigned as a centrist and has now taken several actions that have angered conservatives.

Mark R. Levin

A right-wing Fox News commentator who has criticized Spanberger, accusing her of 'moving at high speed to permanently radicalize and change the state.'

Laura Loomer

A far-right activist who has attacked Spanberger on social media, calling 'white liberal women' the 'most dangerous people in our society.'

Harmeet K. Dhillon

The assistant attorney general overseeing the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, who referred to Spanberger as a 'Bond villain' on social media.

Bryce E. Reeves

A Republican state senator in Virginia who has criticized Spanberger for not working across the aisle, saying she deserves 'an F' for bipartisanship.

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What they’re saying

“She's moving at high speed to permanently radicalize and change the state. She campaigned as a moderate and lied through her teeth.”

— Mark R. Levin, Fox News commentator (X)

“White liberal women are the most dangerous people in our society.”

— Laura Loomer, Far-right activist (X)

“A long winter without Christmas has come to Virginia.”

— The Lepanto Institute, Conservative Catholic organization (X)

“Spanberger is a 'Bond villain'.”

— Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division (X)

“I want to draw a very clear line in the sand.”

— Abigail Spanberger, Governor of Virginia (News conference)

What’s next

The judge in the case against Walker Reed Quinn, the man accused of vandalizing Waymo vehicles, will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow him out on bail.

The takeaway

Spanberger's swift actions as governor have sparked a fierce backlash from conservatives, highlighting the partisan divide in Virginia and the challenges facing moderate Democrats who seek to govern in a polarized political environment. Her decisions on issues like immigration and redistricting have angered the right, raising questions about bipartisanship and the ability of centrist Democrats to enact their agenda.