Dem governor-elect selects former Crockett strategist for top DEI post

FIRST ON FOX: Incoming Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger has tapped former “chief brand strategist” Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Democrat of Texas, to fill the state’s top diversity, equity and inclusion post.

In a statement released Tuesday, Spanberger, who takes office on Jan. 17, announced that she was appointing Dr. Sesha Joi Moon as Virginia’s chief diversity officer and director of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Spanberger said Moon’s “experience in government, education and nonprofit sectors gives him first-hand insight into how we can build a stronger, safer and more prosperous Virginia for every family.”

“I am pleased to announce that Dr. Moon is joining our administration,” Spanberger said, adding, “Virginia deserves leaders who will ensure that our work to grow our Commonwealth’s economy takes into account the needs of all Virginians.”

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Virginia Democratic Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger celebrates as she takes the stage during her campaign night rally at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, November 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“When every Virginian has the opportunity to reach their full potential, it benefits all of us,” she said.

Moon, whose doctorates focus on public administration and policy and who identifies as a “queer Black woman,” responded to her nomination by saying she looked forward to joining Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s cabinet as her historic administration works to promote a future in which all Virginians have access to opportunity — to include residents of some of the Commonwealth’s hardest-to-reach communities.

Moon most recently served as chief impact officer for Girl Scouts of the USA. Before that, through her private consulting firm Moon & Associates, she worked as “chief brand strategist” for Crockett, a far-left radical Democrat currently running for U.S. Senate in Texas.

Earlier this year, Moon appeared on a 40-minute podcast episode, in which she defended the importance of DEI and delivered a direct message to critics, saying, “This work has not stopped. You can defund and dismantle anything you want, but the work continues. »

“I’m excited. I feel like DEI is just getting started,” Moon continued. “I know it seems so crazy to some people because some people think our discipline is falling apart, and I don’t see it that way. I feel like we’re on to something here.”

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Moon also served as an executive in residence with the American Pride Rises Network, a DEI advocacy network for two-time Georgia Governor Stacey Abrams.

Prior to that, she served as chief diversity officer in the U.S. House of Representatives during the 117th and 118th Congresses under Speakers Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Mike Johnson, R-La.

Spanberger won a decisive election victory last November, defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears by a margin of more than 10 percentage points.

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Next, Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears speaks at a CPAC Latino Rally for Virginia on October 25, 2025 in Sterling, Virginia. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Considered a purple state, Spanberger’s victory returns the Virginia governor’s mansion to Democrats after being held by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Spanberger, Moon, Crockett, Abrams and the Girl Scouts of the USA for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.