Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger is celebrating massive statewide investments and job growth in Virginia, but critics say the state’s former governor deserves the credit. This week, Spanberger announced signing multiple business investment bills into law that will bring a total of $7.1 billion and 3,250 jobs to the state. She said in a news release that from her “very first day in office,” she has been working to “create a stable business environment so companies can hire, expand, and continue to invest in (the) Commonwealth.” However, some Virginians have noted that the deals included in the bills were made while former Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin was in office. ?TODAY: I signed bipartisan bills to bring 3,250 jobs and $7.1 billion in investment to Virginia.Attracting new companies and jobs to communities across our Commonwealth is a core focus of my administration.There is no better place in the nation to grow or start a business. pic.twitter.com/8EkDeJ2Uly— Governor Abigail Spanberger (@GovernorVA) April 6, 2026 Four companies listed in Spanberger’s announcement—Hitachi Energy, Eli Lilly and Company, AstraZeneca, and Avio USA—pledged their investments in 2025, while Youngkin was still the sitting governor of Virginia. “(Former) Governor Youngkin is happy that Virginians are being reminded of some good news, even if it means Gov. Spanberger taking credit for the economic deals he secured for the commonwealth,” a Youngkin spokesman told The Daily Signal. “The last three months have been nothing but horrible news for Virginians, as Abigail Spanberger broke every single promise she made on the campaign trail and now has the lowest approval rating of any Virginia governor this century,” the spokesman added. ? New Washington Post–Schar School poll: Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) has the worst approval rating of any VA governor in nearly 30 years, after less than 3 months in office.Elections have consequences. pic.twitter.com/VcVWOcaN7R— Gunther Eagleman (@GuntherEagleman) April 7, 2026 After 80 days in office, Spanberger’s favorability rating sits at 47%, compared to Youngkin’s approval of 54% at the same point in his term. The Investments Hitachi Energy announced in April 2025 that it planned to invest $1 billion in manufacturing by contributing to the production of grid infrastructure. “$457 million USD is dedicated to a new power transformer factory in Virginia, the largest such facility in the U.S., with the support of Governor Youngkin and the commonwealth’s congressional delegation,” the company said in a press release. ? The future of America’s energy grid is being built in Virginia!Hitachi Energy is investing $457 million in South Boston to build the largest large power transformer facility in the United States. This mega-project will bring 825 new high-paying jobs, critical energy… pic.twitter.com/ajz8j3cDzI— 74th Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA74) September 4, 2025 In September, Eli Lilly and Company announced plans to build a $5 billion manufacturing facility near Richmond, Virginia. Youngkin was quoted in the company’s press release. “This new facility in Goochland County will create 650 great jobs, along with 1,800 construction jobs, and deliver some of the most advanced medicines in Lilly’s portfolio, powered by the unmatched talent of our Virginia workforce,” Youngkin said. The biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca announced in October that it was increasing its investment by $500 million in Virginia, bringing the company’s total investment to $4.5 billion. The company announced it would build a new manufacturing facility, creating 3,600 new jobs. “I also want to thank Governor Youngkin and his team for their energy and vision,” AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said in the announcement. “We have found in Virginia an amazing team that moves at incredible speed to build a better future for this Commonwealth and the American people.” The only investment announced after Spanberger won the November election was Avio USA in December, though Youngkin was still in office at the time. The announcement mentioned both Youngkin and Spanberger, thanking them by name. Youngkin’s Future Virginia’s former governor, appearing this week on The Sean Hannity Show, said he plans to remain involved in the state’s political issues. After being out of office for six weeks, Youngkin said he is “just chomping at the bit” to get back to work. “I have more to give. I just do,” Youngkin told Hannity. “Every morning I woke up literally bounding out of bed, ready to roll—and that was the most purposeful I’ve ever felt in my whole life.” Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R): “I have more to give. I just do… Every morning I woke up literally bounding out of bed, ready to roll. And that was the most purposeful I’ve ever felt in my whole life — ever felt in my whole life. I’ve been out of office for six weeks. I… pic.twitter.com/KB91gbvO0v— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) April 7, 2026 As the state’s controversial redistricting referendum approaches a special election vote on April 21, Virginians are seeing more of Youngkin. He will appear at multiple Vote No rallies this weekend across the commonwealth. The post Spanberger Is ‘Taking Credit’ for Youngkin’s Economic Deals appeared first on The Daily Signal.