11/05/2025
We are so proud of our 32 alumnae who earned election on Tuesday night, a single-night record in Emerge Virginia's 11-year history! This includes Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger from the Signature Program Class of 2017 -- the first woman elected Governor in the 406-year history of Virginia's government and only the second Emerge alumnae ever elected Governor of any state, joining Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs!
Abigail's win with 57.58% of the vote is so significant that it's the largest victory by a Democrat for Governor since 1961 -- and that was when Virginia Democrats were considered a conservative party under the Byrd Machine. In the modern era, the only Democrat elected governor to win by double digits was Gerald Baliles, who won by a 10.4% margin in 1985.
As post-election absentee ballots (mail-in ballots that were postmarked by Tuesday and arrive by Friday at noon) and provisional ballots are counted this upcoming weekend, it's quite possible that Governor-elect Spanberger's lead could actually increase -- so please stay tuned!
Meanwhile, all eight EVA alumnae running in the priority Red to Blue flip seats for the Virginia House of Delegates as designated by the Virginia House Democratic Caucus won:
Elizabeth Guzman: HD-22
Lily Franklin: HD-41
Stacey Carroll: HD-64
Nicole Cole: HD-66
Leslie Mehta: HD-73
Lindsey Dougherty: HD-75
Kimberly Pope Adams: HD-82
Kacey Carnegie: HD-89
They'll be joining the 17 EVA alumnae in the Virginia House of Delegates who earned re-election:
Adele McClure: HD-02
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker: HD-05
Karen Keys-Gamarra: HD-07
Irene Shin: HD-08
Karrie Delaney: HD-09
Holly Seibold: HD-12
Laura Jane Cohen: HD-15
Kathy Tran: HD-18
Briana Sewell: HD-25
Atoosa Reaser: HD-27
Amy Laufer: HD-55
Shelly Simonds: HD-70
Debra Gardner: HD-76
Rae Cousins: HD-79
Destiny LeVere Bolling: HD-80
Bonita Anthony: HD-92
Jackie Glass: HD-93
Combined, this means that fully one quarter -- 25/100 -- of the Virginia House of Delegates will now be represented by Emerge Virginia alumnae, a high-water mark for our organization founded in 2014. Emerge Virginia alumnae will make up 39% of the Virginia House Democratic Caucus and 25/35 Democratic women. Women will now make up nearly 58% of the Virginia House Democratic Caucus.
We're also thrilled to see all six of our alumnae who ran for local office win too:
Blacksburg Town Council member Lauren Colliver
Danville City School Board member-elect Trina McLaughlin
Manassas Park Commissioner of the Revenue-elect Lucy Pullen
Norfolk Commissioner of the Revenue Blythe Scott
Richmond Sheriff Antionette Irving
Stafford County Supervisor Kecia Evans
In all, Emerge Virginia alumnae boasted 78% win rate on Tuesday, and we are so grateful for our alumnae who stepped up to run in some of the hardest, most Republican-leaning parts of the commonwealth.
They knew it would be hard and yet put their name on the ballot anyway -- some of whom kept their races within 12 points, including Risë Hayes (HD-52), Mary Person (HD-83) and Cat Porterfield (HD-99). When Democrats look at the 2027 map for further expansion opportunities, districts like these most certainly be part of the discussion.
We'd also like to recognize Yvonne Rorrer (HD-47), Mel Cartright (HD-48), Joy Powers (HD-51), Angela Chainer (HD-56) and Sara Ratcliffe (HD-62) for stepping up as the Democratic nominees in some of the most rural parts of Virginia while Trudy Berry also ran as an independent in HD-50.
Right now, there are 51 Emerge Virginia alumnae in elected office across the commonwealth. Beginning in January, there will be 61 EVA alumnae serving Virginia as elected officials -- a new record!
Thank you all so, so much for everything you've done to advance the success of Democratic women in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Warmly,
Danica Roem
Executive Director
Emerge Virginia
