A cool November morning marked the start of something fresh and exciting for newly 18-year-olds. The 2025 gubernatorial race made history as polling places in Virginia were filled with a set of first time voters such as Sylvia Witt, a senior and one of the thousands of Virginians casting their ballot for the first time.
The candidates for the race were Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears. This election was unlike any other. No matter the result, Virginia would have elected their first female governor. On Tuesday, November 4th, it was announced that Abigail Spanberger had won with 57.6% of votes. From reproductive rights to cost of living issues, this race focused on Virginia’s future.
Younger voters like Sylvia Witt played a crucial role in the decision-making process, “and excited to be a part of something bigger.”
“This race was being watched very closely across the nation, so to know I played some small part in it was a surreal feeling. It was also really cool to vote in an election making Virginia history, knowing that either way, Virginia would elect its first female governor,” said Witt.
Across Virginia, young voters made their voices heard, with exit polls suggesting voters between the ages 18 and 29 strongly favored Spanberger. It was the first time ballot casters who secured her win. Exit polls showed that young voters saw issues such as reproductive rights, affordability, and education as their key motivators for taking part.
For many high school seniors in Virginia, this election was more than something they saw on the news. Instead, it was something that they had become a part of.
Witt spoke about how her education shaped her first experience when it came to voting, highlighting the importance of teenagers educating themselves on topics that they are or will soon be a part of.
“It was a meaningful experience to know that my vote was part of something much greater than myself, and to see what I’ve learned from AP Gov come to life in a real world situation”, Witt noted
Meridian students feel excited to be voting in such a key election, which will go down in history as the first to elect a female governor for Virginia. Young voters feel empowered that they can finally make their voices heard.
