Virginia’s ‘white witch’ Gov. Abigail Spanberger faces conservatives’ backlash; critics say she broke moderate promise

Since taking office in mid-January, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has already ignited a wave of conservative backlash for quickly advancing a number of progressive policies and executive actions, moves that critics say represent a sharp departure from the moderate image she projected during her campaign. The fierce criticism has included colorful labels such as “White Witch” and “Bond villain,” underscoring deep partisan division in the Old Dominion.

Spanberger, a former CIA officer and Democratic member of Congress who became Virginia’s first female governor, entered office on January 17, 2026, after a decisive victory over Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears by roughly 15 percentage points. With Democrats controlling both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly, her party wasted little time pursuing an ambitious agenda.



Within hours of her inauguration, Spanberger signed around 10 executive orders and rolled back key policies from her Republican predecessor, including a directive that had required state and local law enforcement to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Critics seized on these early actions as evidence she is drifting leftward.


Among the changes and proposals gaining attention:

• Ending Cooperation with ICE: One of Spanberger’s earliest executive orders rescinded a Republican-era directive requiring state and local law enforcement to assist federal immigration authorities. Spanberger argued that local police should focus on crime and community safety rather than federal immigration enforcement.
  
• Reducing Mandatory Minimum Sentencing: Democratic lawmakers in the Virginia General Assembly introduced amendments to roll back mandatory minimum sentences for various crimes. Critics flagged proposals to eliminate minimum sentences for serious offenses, though supporters frame this as a broader criminal justice reform effort.
  
• Raising Taxes on Services and Investments: Several bills would expand the state’s tax base by imposing taxes on everyday services like dry cleaning, landscaping, animal care, cosmetics and gym memberships, as well as higher taxes on investment income and even a proposed 11% tax on firearms.
  
• Abortion Rights Constitutional Amendment: The Democratic-led Senate advanced a constitutional amendment to enshrine abortion rights in Virginia, allowing regulation in later stages of pregnancy while preserving access in earlier trimesters if approved by voters.
  

These actions build on Spanberger’s Affordable Virginia Plan, which she championed on the campaign trail and emphasized in a pre-inauguration op-ed, focusing on lowering costs for healthcare, housing, and energy for families across the state.

Conservative backlash

Many conservative figures and commentators have seized on Spanberger’s first week in office, employing vivid rhetoric to criticize her leadership. Some have dubbed her the “White Witch”, a reference to a fictional villain characterized as cold and ruthless, in social media posts that depict fears of dramatic change in Virginia governance.

Commentators like Meghan McCain and others on the right have amplified these attacks, some arguing that Spanberger’s actions amount to a betrayal of her moderate campaign promises.

Critics contend her swift embrace of progressive policies signals a broader leftward shift that could energize Republican opposition and reshape political dynamics in the state ahead of future elections.