Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has won the Democratic Party’s nomination in his quest for a second term in office.
Click here for live election results from the Virginia Dept. of Elections
Tuesday’s victory means the longtime fixture of Democratic politics will go on to face GOP political newcomer Glenn Youngkin in November. McAuliffe held office from 2014 to 2018 but governors in the state are not allowed to run for consecutive terms.
Virginia is the only state in the nation with an open race for governor this year, and the contest is expected to be a closely watched barometer of voter sentiment heading into the midterm elections.
Republicans have not won a statewide race in Virginia in over a decade.
Herring Wins Nomination For Third Term as AG
Incumbent Mark Herring has won the Democratic nomination in the race for attorney general. He fended off a challenge from a state lawmaker who sought to cast Herring as insufficiently progressive.
Herring will face Republican state Del. Jason Miyares in the November general election. Herring is a former state senator who became attorney general in 2014 and was reelected easily in 2017.
On Tuesday, he defeated Del. Jay Jones of Norfolk.
Ayala Wins LG Nomination
Del. Hala Ayala has won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.
Ayala represents parts of Prince William County in the legislature and launched her political career in 2017 in response to the election of Donald Trump. Ayala was the favorite of the Democratic establishment and was endorsed by Gov. Ralph Northam.
She defeated Roanoke Del. Sam Rasoul, who had been the preferred candidate of the party’s progressive wing.
She will face Republican Winsome Sears in November.