Quick Answer
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Crossword clue: “Virginia governor Spanberger”
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Answer: ABIGAIL – 7 letters
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Clue number and direction: 3 Down
The New York Times crossword clue “Virginia governor Spanberger” is answered with ABIGAIL (7 letters) in the February 14, 2026 NYT Mini.
Why ABIGAIL Is the Right NYT Answer
The clue is looking for the full name of Spanberger, identified in news and politics as Abigail Spanberger. She became Virginia’s first female governor, which makes her last name plus state an unambiguous pointer to the first name ABIGAIL.
The Mini’s 3-Down slot requires a 7-letter entry, and helper sites explicitly list ABIGAIL as the answer to “Virginia governor Spanberger” for February 14, 2026, so it matches both the definition and letter count.
What ABIGAIL Means
Here, ABIGAIL is simply a proper name: the first name of Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger. In crosswords, first names like ABIGAIL, ELENA, and TERESA often appear when clued with a full-name reference such as “___ Spanberger” or “Virginia governor Spanberger.”
Outside puzzles, Abigail Spanberger is a Democratic politician and former CIA officer who went on to win the Virginia governorship, making her a high-profile figure suitable for NYT clues.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
Name-based clues that use “governor,” “senator,” or “Rep.” plus a surname usually want the first name as the grid entry (e.g., GAVIN for “California governor Newsom”). Crossings help confirm unusual spellings like ABIGAIL vs ABBYGAIL.
If you see a pattern like A_B_G_I_ with a politics clue mentioning Spanberger, ABIGAIL should be your go-to fill once a couple of letters are in place from crosses.
Crossword-Specific Help: Pattern, Count, and Crossings
In the February 14, 2026 NYT Mini, “Virginia governor Spanberger” fills a 7-letter Down slot, which aligns perfectly with ABIGAIL. In the grid it appears as:
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A B I G A I L
Crossings from Across entries such as NBA, ORC, ORB, and RAINBOW quickly lock in A‑B‑I‑G‑A‑I‑L, leaving no realistic alternative for a current Virginia governor with that surname. Because ABIGAIL is a common given name and Spanberger is prominent in recent U.S. politics, this kind of clue-answer pair is likely to recur in modern-era NYT puzzles.
Complete February 14, 2026 NYT Mini Answers Today (Across & Down)
Here are the key answers from the February 14, 2026 NYT Mini to help you complete the full grid.
Across
| Clue | Answer | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| Org. with a Slam Dunk Contest | NBA | 3 |
| Menacing creature in “The Lord of the Rings” | ORC | 3 |
| Spherical shape | ORB | 3 |
| Greek “r” | RHO | 3 |
| Symbol on Hawaii’s license plate | RAINBOW | 7 |
Down
| Clue | Answer | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| More courageous | BRAVER | 6 |
| Virginia governor Spanberger | ABIGAIL | 7 |
| Went around the world? | ORBITED | 7 |
| Colossus of ___, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World | RHODES | 6 |
| Intimidated | COWED | 5 |
