NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Virginia’s Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger<\/a> was swept into the governor’s mansion on a deep blue wave last November, but has seen her popularity plummet after less than 3 months in office.<\/p>\n Forty-six percent of Virginians disapprove of her job performance,<\/a> while 47% approve. Compared to Virginia governors from both sides of the aisle since 1994, Spanberger has the highest disapproval rating at this point in her term.<\/p>\n In contrast, predecessor Gov. Glenn Youngkin saw a 54-39 job approval at this point in his term, with the highest favorability going to Democrat Mark Warner \u2013 now Virginia\u2019s senior senator \u2013 with a 78-20 rating.<\/p>\n ICE PRESSURES SPANBERGER AS FAIRFAX MURDER SUSPECTS TRIGGER NEW DETAINERS IN \u2018SANCTUARY\u2019 CLASH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger responds to President Donald Trump’s, unseen, State of the Union.<\/span> (Steve Helber\/Reuters)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Warner\u2019s current counterpart, Sen. Tim Kaine, was at 62-31, GOP Gov. Jim Gilmore III at 63-30, Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell at 59-39 and Democrats Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam<\/a> at 52-30 and 48-37 respectively.<\/p>\n RNC SUES TO STOP DEMOCRATS’ VIRGINIA REDISTRICTING PUSH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Spanberger defeated then-Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears<\/a> by 15 points in November and completely flipped statewide offices to Democrats Ghazala Hashmi for lieutenant governor and Jay Jones for attorney general.<\/p>\n The Post pointed out that while Spanberger\u2019s favorability was narrow, her win dwarfed that of Youngkin\u2019s over McAuliffe in 2021 \u2013 and the Falls Church business executive\u2019s favorability was several points higher than hers.<\/p>\n George Mason University Policy & Government Dean Mark Rozell, a co-sponsor of the poll, told the Post<\/a> that while some bit of political polarization is “baked in,” it was “unusual” to see such a result for Spanberger this early in her term after a campaign on a “centrist image.”<\/p>\n PRIMARY PAUSE, POLITICAL FIRESTORM: HIGH-STAKES ELECTIONS THIS MONTH TAKE CENTER STAGE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Seven percent of Virginians<\/a>, however, by contrast, cite her tenure as “too conservative.”<\/p>\n Spanberger\u2019s shift on gerrymandering<\/a> was recently evinced through redistricting referendum critics citing her own 2019 words back to her in recent mailers, according to reports.<\/p>\n “Gerrymandering is detrimental to our democracy and it weakens the individual voices that form our electorates. Opposing gerrymandering should be a bipartisan priority,” Spanberger tweeted six years ago when Virginia considered its ultimately successful bid to remove map-redrawing power from the partisan legislature.<\/p>\n INSURGENT VIRGINIA DEMOCRAT SAYS HIS PARTY IS \u2018COMPLETELY WRONG\u2019 ON GUN RIGHTS AND GERRYMANDERING<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n However, Spanberger\u2019s office recently denied claims that there<\/a> had been any internal deals made involving her personally to help get more Democrats elected, particularly in the case of the Second Congressional District in Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore.<\/p>\n Spanberger has also received criticism for appearing to pivot on gun control<\/a>, from a moderate stance while in Congress favoring commonsense reforms and citing her resume as a former gun-toting CIA agent and postal inspector, to a governor poised to sign sweeping gun bans drafted<\/a> by far-left Fairfax Democrats.<\/p>\n “I\u2019m a mother of three girls in Virginia Public Schools. I\u2019m also a former federal agent who carried a gun every single day for my job,” she said at a 2025 rally<\/a>. “So I come at this issue as someone who cares deeply about the safety of our kids and as someone who understands the responsibilities of owning and of carrying a firearm.”<\/p>\n A welcome sign is posted in the grass near the intersection of Lee Highway, Key Bridge, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Rosslyn, Arlington County, Virginia.<\/span> (Universal Images Group\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The redistricting referendum has been<\/a> criticized for unfairly empowering Spanberger\u2019s base counties, as five newly-drawn districts would originate in Fairfax and envelop \u2013 and critics say overpower \u2013 the voices of rural central and Western Virginia.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n One such district in particular, unfavorably shaped like a lobster according to critics, already has three notable Democratic candidates \u2013 gun control bill sponsor State Del. Dan Helmer of Fairfax, former first lady Dorothy McAuliffe<\/a>, and former Jack Smith deputy JP Cooney \u2013 despite the referendum not being officially decided by the voters until April 21.<\/p>\n Fox News Digital reached out to Spanberger for comment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Virginia](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1200\/675\/Abigail-Spanberger-responds-to-Trump.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1\")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n![\"Virginia](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1200\/675\/virginia-welcome-sign-arlington-at-key-bridge.png?ve=1&tl=1\")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n