History of Abigail Spanberger in Timeline

Abigail Spanberger is an American politician who served as the U.S. Representative for Virginia's 7th congressional district from 2019 to 2025. Previously an intelligence officer, she is a member of the Democratic Party. Currently, she is the Democratic nominee for the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election. Her political career highlights her transition from intelligence to elected office, focusing on representing her district and now aiming for the governorship of Virginia.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1948: Joe Biden First Democrat to win the 7th since 1948

Joe Biden is the first Democrat to win what is now the 7th district since 1948.

1970: Democrat John Marsh retired

In 1970, four-term Democrat John Marsh retired and was succeeded by Republican J. Kenneth Robinson.

August 7, 1979: Abigail Spanberger's Birth

On August 7, 1979, Abigail Anne Davis Spanberger was born. She is an American politician and former intelligence officer.

Others born on this day/year

1981: Republican control of the 3rd district.

Since 1981, the 3rd district had been in Republican hands.

1993: Redistricting of the 7th Congressional District

Until 1993, the 7th congressional district stretched from the outer Washington suburbs through the Shenandoah Valley and Charlottesville to the outer Richmond suburbs; the present 7th is geographically and demographically the successor to what was the 3rd district before 1993.

2001: Eric Cantor represented the 3rd district

From 2001 until 2014, former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor represented the 3rd district.

2004: Support on gun control policies

Abigail Spanberger has called for a new version of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban that expired in 2004. She also favors requiring background checks on private gun sales and supported a ban on bump stocks.

2006: Joined the Central Intelligence Agency

In 2006, Abigail Spanberger joined the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as an operations officer, where she gathered intelligence about nuclear proliferation and terrorism.

2014: Left the CIA and entered the private sector

In 2014, Abigail Spanberger left the CIA and entered the private sector, getting hired by Royall & Company (now EAB).

2014: Dave Brat ousted Eric Cantor

In 2014, Dave Brat ousted Eric Cantor in the Republican primary.

2014: Family Move to Henrico County

In 2014, Spanberger, her husband Adam Spanberger, and their three daughters moved to Henrico County, Virginia, settling in Glen Allen.

2016: Presidential Election Results in Spanberger's Future District

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump won 50% of the vote to Hillary Clinton's 44% in what would become Spanberger's congressional district.

July 2017: Announced Candidacy for U.S. House of Representatives

In July 2017, Abigail Spanberger announced her candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in Virginia's 7th congressional district in the 2018 election, running against incumbent Republican Dave Brat.

2017: Criticized the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Although not a member of Congress when it passed, in 2017 Abigail Spanberger criticized the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act supported by then-President Donald Trump, arguing that its permanent tax cuts for corporations would increase the national debt.

2017: Appointed to the Virginia Fair Housing Board

In 2017, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed Abigail Spanberger to the Virginia Fair Housing Board.

June 12, 2018: Defeated Dan Ward in the Democratic primary election

On June 12, 2018, Abigail Spanberger defeated Dan Ward in the Democratic primary election with 73% of the vote.

September 23, 2019: Called for Impeachment Inquiry into Trump

On September 23, 2019, Abigail Spanberger, along with six other freshman House Democrats with national security backgrounds, called for an impeachment inquiry into then-President Trump.

2019: Called for reversal of isolationist policies

During a 2019 Committee on Foreign Affairs meeting, Abigail Spanberger asked the Trump administration to reverse its isolationist policies on international environmental and energy issues.

2019: U.S. Representative for Virginia's 7th congressional district

In 2019, Abigail Spanberger started serving as the U.S. representative for Virginia's 7th congressional district. She served until 2025.

2019: Vote in favor of The Equality Act

In 2019, Spanberger voted in favor of the Equality Act, which at the time, had not yet become law.

2019: Voting on Immigration and House Budget

In 2019, Spanberger voted to allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be notified when undocumented immigrants attempt to purchase firearms. She also voted against the House budget because it failed to acknowledge the growing national debt.

2019: Voted for Cheri Bustos for Speaker of the House

In 2019, during the election for Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Abigail Spanberger voted for Representative Cheri Bustos, an Illinois Democrat, instead of Nancy Pelosi.

January 2020: Sponsored Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act

In January 2020, Abigail Spanberger sponsored the Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act, which passed the House unanimously. The bill requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to publicize rebates, discounts, and price concessions.

May 2020: Voted against the HEROES Act

In May 2020, Abigail Spanberger voted against the HEROES Act, a proposed $3 trillion stimulus package in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

June 1, 2020: Criticized Trump's reaction to George Floyd protests

On June 1, 2020, Abigail Spanberger tweeted criticism of then-President Trump's reaction to the George Floyd protests.

November 2020: Prescription drugs pricing

In November 2020, Abigail Spanberger called reducing the cost of prescription drugs "the top priority of families in my district".

November 2020: Led bipartisan effort to secure the 340B Drug Pricing Program

In November 2020, Abigail Spanberger led a bipartisan effort to secure the 340B Drug Pricing Program against changes that would lead to significant increases in prescription medication costs.

2020: Redistricting Cycle

After the 2020 United States redistricting cycle, Spanberger's district was radically redrawn, and no longer included her home in Henrico County.

2020: Criticized Democratic Party's Election Strategy

In 2020, days after winning reelection by a margin of 1.8%, Abigail Spanberger criticized the Democratic Party's strategy for the 2020 elections, singling out Republican attack ads decrying "socialism" and the movement to "defund the police."

November 2021: Criticized Biden after Virginia gubernatorial election

In a November 2021 interview with the New York Times, Abigail Spanberger criticized President Biden after the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election, particularly regarding inflation.

2022: Future elections

Chris Cillizza described Spanberger's remarks as "some hard truth" for the Democratic Party, adding that in order to succeed in the 2022 and 2024 elections, the party should "listen to the likes of Spanberger".

2022: Defeated Vega in Election

In 2022, Spanberger defeated Yesli Vega, 52% to 48%.

2022: Vote in favor of The Respect for Marriage Act

In 2022, Spanberger voted in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act.

January 31, 2023: Voted for the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act

On January 31, 2023, Abigail Spanberger was among seven Democrats who voted for H.R. 497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, which would lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers.

February 1, 2023: Voted to end the COVID-19 national emergency

On February 1, 2023, Abigail Spanberger was among 12 Democrats who voted for a resolution to end the COVID-19 national emergency.

February 2023: Advocated for giving Ukraine F-16 fighter jets

In February 2023, during the Russo–Ukrainian War, Abigail Spanberger signed a letter advocating that President Biden give Ukraine F-16 fighter jets.

November 2023: Announced run for governor of Virginia

In November 2023, Abigail Spanberger announced she would not seek reelection to Congress and would instead run for governor of Virginia in the 2025 election.

2023: Voted against overturning DC's criminal code revision

In 2023, Abigail Spanberger voted against overturning the District of Columbia's revision of its criminal code, which reduced the maximum penalties for burglary, carjacking, and robbery.

2024: Future elections

April 2025: Secured nomination in April 2025.

In April 2025, Abigail Spanberger secured the nomination for governor.

May 2025: On Virginia's right-to-work law.

In May 2025 Spanberger said she would not sign a bill to fully repeal Virginia's right-to-work law if elected governor.

June 2025: Supported the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites

In June 2025, Spanberger supported the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

September 2025: Opinion article against DOGE mass layoffs

In September 2025, Spanberger wrote an opinion article in The Washington Post opposing DOGE for conducting mass layoffs of federal workers in 2025, which particularly affect Virginia, as many federal workers live there.

2025: Nominee for governor in the Virginia gubernatorial election.

In 2025, Abigail Spanberger became the Democratic Party's nominee for governor in the Virginia gubernatorial election.

2025: Endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign

In 2025, Spanberger received an endorsement from the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ advocacy group.

2025: Spanberger supports same-sex marriage

In 2025, Spanberger voiced her support for same-sex marriage, asserting that all Virginians deserve the freedom to marry and have their families welcomed without the shadow of an outdated and unconstitutional ban on marriage equality.