Tuesday is major day in Virginia. Voters are weighing in on their picks for lieutenant governor, legal professional normal and the Home of Delegates.
The polls are open till 7 p.m. Anybody in line by then might be allowed to vote. Go right here to test your polling place and see data on what identification you want.
News4 is monitoring the races and talking with voters. One early morning voter mentioned it was a pleasure to solid her poll close to daybreak.
“Feels nice. It’s essential to vote in all elections,” she mentioned.
Listed below are large races to observe – and what they may point out on the nationwide stage
Virginia Democrats are set on Tuesday to choose their nominees for lieutenant governor and legal professional normal, rounding out the statewide ticket and setting the stage for a bellwether election later this yr.
A lot of the nominees slated to be on the high of the November ticket have already been picked, and Republicans aren’t even having a statewide major.
Candidates in Virginia are making their remaining push to voters forward of Tuesday’s major election. Northern Virginia Bureau Reporter Drew Wilder breaks down what to anticipate.
Within the race for governor, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, whose candidacy thwarted potential major challengers, will go up in opposition to Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears — the one Republican who certified for the poll. Republicans have additionally solidified nominees for lieutenant governor and legal professional normal.
Virginia is considered one of two states that host statewide elections the yr after a presidential election — New Jersey is the opposite — and the races are usually seen as referendums on the social gathering in energy earlier than Congress heads into midterm elections.
Analysts might be on the lookout for clues in each states about voter sentiment with President Donald Trump again within the Oval Workplace and Republicans controlling energy in Washington.
Democrats’ maintain on Virginia has slipped in recent times, shifting it near swing-state standing nationally. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin beat former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in 2021. And though Democrats narrowly gained again full management of the legislature in a 2023 election, then-Vice President Kamala Harris gained Virginia final yr by lower than six factors, in comparison with former President Joe Biden’s 10-point lead in 2020.
Nonetheless, Democrats have historical past on their facet: The social gathering of the sitting president usually suffers defeat in Virginia’s statewide races. And contemplating Trump has by no means gained the state, Democrats are in all probability higher positioned to make features as soon as their ticket solidifies.
Voters at a polling place in Arlington spoke with News4’s Joseph Olmo about why they solid their ballots. Voting is a method to “construct the group you wish to see,” one individual mentioned.
Six Democrats searching for to be lieutenant governor
The six Democrats vying to be Virginia’s subsequent lieutenant governor aren’t all that completely different on the problems: They help rights to abortion, a residing wage, inexpensive housing and accessible well being care. In addition they share related criticisms of Trump.
The candidates notably fracture alongside regional traces, and distinctions emerge in what they’ve emphasised in stump speeches alongside the marketing campaign path.
Former Richmond Metropolis Mayor Levar Stoney has touted his ties to the Democratic Celebration and expertise working underneath former Govs. Mark Warner and Terry McAuliffe. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg endorsed his marketing campaign in June.
State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi can be from the Richmond space, representing a part of the town and suburbs. Hashmi has pushed reproductive well being in her bid and has been endorsed by abortion rights political motion committees.
Virginia Sen. Aaron Rouse, from Virginia Seashore with ties to southwest Virginia, has additionally highlighted his legislative accomplishments.
Prince William County Faculty Board Chair Barbur Lateef, former federal prosecutor Victor Salgado and retired U.S. Division of Labor employee Alex Bastani are from northern Virginia.
Lateef, a watch surgeon, has zeroed in on schooling and well being care. Salgado has pressured the significance of strengthening democracy, and Bastani has emphasised labor rights.
County prosecutor vs. former delegate in race for legal professional normal
Former Del. Jay Jones and Henrico County Commonwealth’s Legal professional Shannon Taylor are searching for to be the following legal professional normal.
Jones, who as soon as represented Norfolk within the Home of Delegates, comes from a protracted line of Hampton Roads politicians. His father was additionally a delegate, and his grandfather was the primary Black member of the Norfolk Faculty Board. Jones beforehand ran for legal professional normal in 2021 however misplaced the first to Democratic incumbent Mark Herring.
Taylor has served greater than a decade as the highest prosecutor within the suburbs exterior Richmond after flipping the open seat in 2011. Notable instances embrace when she was appointed particular prosecutor within the case of the torch-carrying mob within the deadly 2017 Unite the Proper white supremacist riot. She took one of many torch carriers to trial, information present, however the case was dismissed after a hung verdict.
The Democratic contest for lieutenant governor is probably the most hotly contested race on the Virginia major poll. Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey studies the candidates share related views on many points — however not on the problem of a Tysons on line casino.
A Republican ticket for a divided social gathering
Just one Republican candidate in every statewide contest is advancing to the poll.
Earle-Sears turned the gubernatorial nominee after Republicans Dave LaRock and Amanda Chase failed to gather sufficient signatures to qualify for the poll. Each LaRock and Chase initially challenged Earle-Sears for not being absolutely aligned with Trump.
Conservative talk-radio host John Reid turned the de facto nominee for lieutenant governor after his major opponent left the race, and regardless of intraparty quarreling over whether or not he was tied to a social media account reposting pornography.
Virginia Legal professional Normal Jason Miyares sailed to his spot on the poll after saying his reelection bid.
Virginia’s GOP candidate for lieutenant governor is accusing Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s advisors of extortion for attempting to power him to finish his marketing campaign. News4 Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey studies.
Down-ballot races within the Home of Delegates
All 100 seats of the Home of Delegates are up for election in November, and a few nomination contests are happening in Virginia’s extra aggressive districts.
Democrats Could Nivar and Andrew Schear are racing to tackle Republican incumbent Del. David Owen in a Richmond-area district that Home liberals are vying to flip.
Three Democrats are operating to battle Republican Del. Carrie Coyner in a Petersburg-area district.
Two Republicans and two Democrats can have separate primaries to fill a aggressive seat within the Chesapeake space, which opened after Republican Rep. Baxter Ennis introduced his retirement.
Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears will face Democratic nominee and former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger within the Virginia governor’s race. Right here’s what to know after the state GOP mentioned Amanda Chase and Dave LaRock didn’t qualify for the poll.
