Virginia Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe said Wednesday that signing an LGBT protections executive order would be a top priority of his administration.

McAuliffe defeated his Tea Party-backed Republican rival Ken Cuccinelli, the state's attorney general, on Tuesday to secure the Virginia governor's mansion.

In addressing a group of supporters after his win, McAuliffe repeated his support for gay rights: “Over the next four years, most Democrats and Republicans in Virginia want to make Virginia a model for pragmatic leadership that is friendly to job creation. A model for strong schools that prepare our students for the jobs of tomorrow. A model for welcoming the best and brightest scientists and innovators, no matter your race, gender, religion or whom you love.”

On Wednesday, McAuliffe pledged he would issue a gay-inclusive executive order prohibiting workplace discrimination in state employment, a practice made common by the state's last two Democratic governors before Republican Governor Bob McDonnell was elected in 2009. McDonnell's February 5, 2010 order stripped out protections for gay and lesbian state employees.

“I will make sure that every single individual in the Commonwealth of Virginia is treated fair and equal,” he said during his first press conference.

In contrast, Cuccinelli and his running mate E.W. Jackson strongly opposed gay rights.

(Related: E.W. Jackson defends anti-gay remarks.)