Spanberger, who ran for the Democratic nomination unopposed, will battle Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in the governor's race. The female nominees all but guarantee that Virginia will have a woman for governor, which is a first in the state's some 250-year history dating back to Patrick Henry's governorship.

The political spotlight this year is on Virginia, which kicked off its closely watched statewide election cycle with primaries that set November’s ballot.

State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi and attorney Jay Jones secured nominations in Tuesday’s primary elections to join Abigail Spanberger on the Democratic statewide ticket.