Democrat Abigail Spanberger wins reelection in bellwether Virginia district, NBC News projects

U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) during a press conference with Moore Hallmark, Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Brian Lam, a local business owner, outside of Collage Spa on November 3, 2022 in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

NBC News projected that Democratic Rep. Spanberger had defeated Republican Yesli Vega for reelection to the House.

The central Virginia district was seen as a litmus test for how Democrats would fare in swing districts, which historically favor Republicans. The swing district of Spanberger was seen as a crucial one for Democrats to hold in order to curb their losses.

In the district that includes the suburbs that are usually friendly to Democrats, Spanberger was first elected to Congress in the year 2000.

In the outer suburbs of Washington D.C., where the electorate is 20% Latino and voters are more socially conservative than in her current district, the electorate is 20% Latino and Voters are more socially conservative than in her current district.

There is more of Prince William County in the new district, where there is an auxiliary deputy in the sheriff's office. She would be the first Latina from Virginia in Congress.

The GOP nomination was secured by a relative political newcomer who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

She distanced herself from the national Democratic Party and from President Joe Biden, whose nationwide approval ratings are in the low 40s.

A central part of her campaign was making abortion rights a priority.

The race was one of the most expensive House races in the country. According to the nonprofit Open Secrets, each of the two candidates faced negative ad spending of over $7 million.