Her time has come: Virginia will, after four centuries, have a woman governor

VirginiagovernorcandidatesAbigailSpanberger(left)andWinsomeEarle-Sears.(SpanbergerphotobyMarkusSchmidt/VirginiaMercury,Earle-SearsphotobyParkerMichels-BoycefortheVirginiaMercury) It’sonlytakenVirginia400-plusyearstogetaroundtoit,butafairlyroutinepoliticaleventlastweekendmadeitnearlyanabsolutecertaintythatnextJanuary,thecommonwealthwillinaugurateitsfirstwomangovernor. TheRepublicanPartyofVirginiaannouncedonSaturdaythatformerstateSen.AmandaChase,aright-winglightningrodwhodescribedherselfas“Trumpinheels,”hadfailedtogatherenoughsignaturesonqualifyingpetitionsbythatday’sdeadlinetoappearontheRepublicangubernatorialprimaryballot. ThatmadeLt.Gov.WinsomeEarle-Searstheparty’snominee,obviatingthenecessityforaRepublicanPrimaryinJune.Thatcreatedadirect,head-to-headgeneralelectionmatch-upinNovemberwithformerU.S.Rep.AbigailSpanberger,whoisunopposedfortheDemocraticnomination. Butforunforeseen,tragiccircumstances,theboys�