For the first time in United States history, Virginia has elected a female governor. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, will take office as Virginia’s 75th governor in mid-January following her victory on November 4th over Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears.

Adding to this historic night in women’s and political history, New Jersey had elected their 57th governor, Democrat Mikie Sherrill. Sherill is only the second female governor of New Jersey, after Christine Todd Whitman, the 50th governor of New Jersey.

Both women represent a shift in leadership as two women take on some of the nation’s highest state roles in the executive branch, and a change in power, considering the predominantly male-held positions.

For Spanberger, her policies range from strengthening Virginia schools’ plans to lowering healthcare and prescription drug costs. Her background includes beginning as a substitute teacher at an academy in Northern Virginia, to a job offer in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), while in the meantime working as a postal inspector for the United States Postal Service. During her time with the CIA, Spanberger traveled across the world, meeting with foreign officers, preventing terrorist attacks, and countering the expansion of nuclear weapons. Eventually, she left the CIA and worked for a private company while also working with Emerge America to encourage Democratic women to run for office.

Additionally, Spanberger held the position of U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, where she had served three terms. During her time, she served on multiple committees such as the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.

Having an excellent background in politics is shared by the two women. As for Sherrill, she has held roles such as a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Navy, making her a veteran. She worked in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey as an Outreach and Re-entry Coordinator, preventing crime. Sherril additionally served as the representative for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District for four terms before her victory as governor.

The two share a common ground in recognizing certain topics of affordability and fairness, recognizing their voters’ opinions and hits toward inflation and cost of living. They diverge in certain areas, though, with Spanberger’s campaign leaning more toward outreach on protecting Virginians’ jobs and immigration rights and Sherrill leaning toward public safety, with topics such as gun control and efficiency in the state government. Both campaigns reflect the two women’s left-leaning ideals, yet attempt to remain in the middle for fairness in both VA and NJ.

If this election has taught America anything, it’s that politics is about progress. Merely 100 years ago, it would have been looked down upon to have a woman in government, but just this week, two have been elected. The victories of Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill only add to the evolving history of women in politics and hope for the voices that have long waited to be heard.