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Government — Virginia Government — Abigail Spanberger — Virginia Democrats — Ryan McDougle — Louise Lucas — Virginia budget

‘It’s outrageous’: Spanberger navigates budget fight, Democratic unrest six months into governorship

Virginia’s first woman governor defends her vetoes and cautious approach as lawmakers race towards a shutdown deadline

, and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury

June 15, 2026 . 1:41 PM

9 min read

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signs legislation in Richmond in April. Spanberger’s first six months in office have been marked by clashes over vetoes, affordability policies and ongoing budget negotiations tied to data center tax incentives. (Photo courtesy of the Virginia Governor's Office)

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