The five Democrats running for governor in next week's primary met for one final debate Tuesday night.
During a televised debate from Norfolk Tuesday night, Democrats running for governor staked out clear policy positions giving voters a sense of what the candidates would do if elected.
Senator Jennifer McClellan says she would expand services covered by Medicaid. "Ensuring we are addressing dental, vision, pregnant women up to the first full year after birth," McClellan said.
Former Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy says she would implement anti-racist policies. "I will tackle mass incarceration in a real way by reforming our cash bail system," Carroll Foy promised.
Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax says he would build on police reform efforts. "We should have universal body cameras for every single law enforcement officer here in the Commonwealth of Virginia," Fairfax argued, "and they should be mandated to be turned on."
Perhaps the strongest contrast is with Delegate Lee Carter, a socialist who is calling for tuition-free community college and universal health care. "I'm the only candidate on the stage who's proposing to use 100 percent of the new cannabis tax revenue to fund reparations for Black and Indigenous Virginians."
Former Governor Terry McAuliffe is running on his record and current Governor Ralph Northam's record. "We have had eight great years of success here in Virginia," McAuliffe said.
Voters are already determining which of those policy positions matter to them right now, and the results of this primary election will be finalized after polls close on June 8th.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
