Abigail Spanberger makes historical past being sworn in as Virginia’s first feminine governor | EUROtoday

Abigail Spanberger made historical past on Saturday, sworn in as Virginia’s first feminine governor. The Democrat took her oath at midday amidst a chilly drizzle exterior the state Capitol, ending centuries of male management within the state’s highest workplace.

Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, succeeding Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Her inauguration indicators a brand new chapter for Democrats wielding energy in Virginia, whilst Republican President Donald Trump occupies the White House.

The day additionally noticed two different vital inaugurations: Ghazala F Hashmi grew to become the primary Muslim girl to carry statewide workplace within the U.S. as lieutenant governor, and Jay Jones was sworn in as Virginia’s first Black lawyer normal.

A former CIA case officer and member of Congress, Ms Spanberger’s November victory made her the state’s seventy fifth governor. This is a historic first, as solely males have held the submit since Virginia grew to become a commonwealth in 1776, with no girl serving as a colonial governor prior.

She will now be formally addressed as “Madam Governor” or, by some officers, “her excellency.”

While conventional protocol, outlined in “A Guide to Virginia Protocol and Traditions,” suggests morning coats for males and darkish fits for ladies – a convention upheld by many, together with her husband – Spanberger selected to put on all white.

This sartorial selection, with a gold pin on her lengthy white coat, is seen as a possible tribute to the ladies’s suffrage motion.