![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam1-480x320.jpg)
RICHMOND, Va. — Democrat Ralph Northam was sworn in as the 73rd governor of Virginia on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018.
Here are photos from the ceremony.
![Bells chimed as Ralph Northam became the 73rd governor of Virginia. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam1.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![Justin Fairfax is sworn in as Lt. Gov., the second black statewide official in Virginia. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam2.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![Children from the ADAMS Center in Sterling, Virginia, lead the pledge of allegiance. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam3.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![Members of the crowd wave during America the Beautiful. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam4.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![Governor-elect Ralph Northam joins the ceremony with his wife. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam5.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam6.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![The crowd cheers as Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax joins the ceremony. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam7.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![Attorney General Mark Herring joins the ceremony. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam8.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![Former governors Bob McDonnell and Douglas Wilder attended the inauguration. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam9.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (top center, purple scarf) also attended the inauguration. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam10.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![Former governor Terry McAuliffe hands the key to the executive mansion to Ralph Northam. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam11.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![Pictured in his first moments as governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam begins his inaugural address. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam12.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![Native American tribes bless the ground at the governor's inauguration. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam13.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam134.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
— Max Smith (@amaxsmith) January 13, 2018
![Calls to expand Medicaid, protect abortion rights and address gun violence were met with a standing ovation. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam15.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![The parade featuring the National Guard and VMI cadets begins. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam16.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam17.jpg)
WTOP/Max Smith
![Bells chimed as Ralph Northam became the 73rd governor of Virginia. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam1-260x174.jpg)
![Justin Fairfax is sworn in as Lt. Gov., the second black statewide official in Virginia. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam2-260x174.jpg)
![Children from the ADAMS Center in Sterling, Virginia, lead the pledge of allegiance. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam3-260x174.jpg)
![Members of the crowd wave during America the Beautiful. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam4-260x174.jpg)
![Governor-elect Ralph Northam joins the ceremony with his wife. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam5-260x174.jpg)
![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam6-260x174.jpg)
![The crowd cheers as Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax joins the ceremony. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam7-260x174.jpg)
![Attorney General Mark Herring joins the ceremony. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam8-260x174.jpg)
![Former governors Bob McDonnell and Douglas Wilder attended the inauguration. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam9-260x174.jpg)
![D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (top center, purple scarf) also attended the inauguration. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam10-260x174.jpg)
![Former governor Terry McAuliffe hands the key to the executive mansion to Ralph Northam. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam11-260x174.jpg)
![Pictured in his first moments as governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam begins his inaugural address. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam12-260x174.jpg)
![Native American tribes bless the ground at the governor's inauguration. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam13-260x174.jpg)
![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam134-260x174.jpg)
![Calls to expand Medicaid, protect abortion rights and address gun violence were met with a standing ovation. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam15-260x174.jpg)
![The parade featuring the National Guard and VMI cadets begins. (WTOP/Max Smith)](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam16-260x174.jpg)
![](https://wtop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/northam17-260x174.jpg)