ROANOKE, Va. – Ahead of Tuesday’s primary election, candidates are making last-minute campaign stops.
Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who’s running for the seat again this year and leading the polls at 47%, visited Feeding Southwest Virginia’s Community Solutions Center in Roanoke on Monday.
“I’m going to run through the tape like I always do. The consequences are so big. We have to go big and bold,” said McAuliffe.
He’s facing off against four other candidates to see who will go head-to-head with Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin.
The other Democrats on the ticket include current Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, Lee Carter, Del. Jennifer McClellan and former Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy. If either McClellan or Carroll Foy wins the primary and November’s election, they would make history as Virginia’s first female governor and the country’s first black female governor.
“If we want something different we have to do something different, and we have to vote that difference into office,” said Carroll Foy.
“I have more state government experience than all of my opponents combined leaning on a deep and wide variety of complex issues, and I’m ready on day one to lead Virginia,” said McClellan.
Other major Democratic races include Lt. Governor, with six candidates on the ballot. According to the latest Wason Center poll, Sam Rasoul is leading with 12%.
“I’ve always tried to do what I think is right. While I certainly try to advance progressive values, I’ve always said what is best for Virginians and that’s how I’ve always voted and can’t wait to do that as your next lieutenant governor,” said Rasoul.
The two candidates running for Attorney General are Jay Jones and incumbent Mark Herring, who is leading with 42%.
Seats in the Virginia House of Delegates are up for grabs including the 7th district, but it’s not just Democrats in the primary. Republicans are hoping for nominations in the 9th, 22nd and 24th Districts.
As for local elections, incumbent Sara Bohn is running against Liam Watson in the race for the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors District A representative. And Lee Hill and Antonio Hash will face off in the Roanoke City Sheriff election.
10 New political analyst Dr. Ed Lynch said the Lt. Governor’s race is the only contested one to watch. Because of that, he believes voter turnout might not be overwhelming.
“My guess would be that in the local races, the established candidates are probably going to come out on top,” said Lynch.