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Virginians Head to the Polls Today in Party Primaries

AP Photo / Steve Helber

For the first time in the same year the major parties in Virginia are using a primary to pick their nominees for governor. The Democratic primary between Ralph Northam and Tom Perriello has  been hotly contested, while Republicans Corey Stewart and Frank Wagner are hoping to upset front-runner Ed Gillespie. Despite the race being touted as an early indicator of President Donald Trump's success, election watchers are still expecting a low turnout. 

Democrats are closely divided between Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam and former Congressman Tom Perriello. Supporters for both campaigns are stationed at voting precincts across the state hoping to influence undecided voters.

Most Democrats who show up at the polls have already made up their mind one way or another. But some voters are still on the fence and have yet to make a decision between Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam and former Congressman Tom Perriello. One of those poll workers hoping to persuade those voters is Paige Perriello, one of the candidate’s sisters. She’s been handing out grip cards and talking to voters at the Lee Center in Alexandria.

“I actually had a chance to talk to two, in the last hour, undecided voters who came in and had real questions and we got to have substantive conversation about the issues and that was real exciting. So that’s what this is all about.”

A few blocks away, Northam supporter Hazel Rigby is running a phone-banking operation out of her house near City Hall.

Credit AP Photo / Steve Helber
Democratic candidate Tom Perriello speaks with voters outside a polling place in Chesterfield.

"Our canvassers have come back said we’ve been able to influence a couple of people who ask a lot of questions, and I think people are — even here — they have been asking a lot of questions.”

Whichever candidate wins tonight, Northam and Perriello are both expected at a Democratic unity rally tomorrow in Fairfax County featuring Governor Terry McAuliffe and Attorney General Mark Herring.  

While two Democrats have been locked in a heated battle, the Republican race has been a bit sleepier.

republicans_wrap.mp3
Mallory Noe-Payne reports that state Republicans aren't worried about a low turnout in today's primary.

Even Republican Party chairman John Whitbeck admits there won’t be nearly as many Republicans voting today as Democrats. But that shouldn’t be taken as a lack of enthusiasm, he says, just a reflection of a race where fewer dollars have been spent. The two Democrats have bought about 6-million in ads between them.

“Then you consider the fact that they’re going to be drained down to zero just about by the time they reach the general election and whoever our nominee is, is not. That’s going to be a huge advantage for us and one that we’re really excited about.”

  

Republicans are fielding three candidates. Corey Stewart has firmly positioned himself as the Donald Trump-like outsider. Ed Gillespie, a more traditional conservative, has called for across the board tax cuts. And state senator Frank Wagner has touted years of experience at the state legislature.

 

Credit AP Photo / Steve Helber
Republican candidate for governor Ed Gillespie, right, speaks with Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate Glenn Davis, left, at a polling place earlier today.

Regardless who wins, Whitbeck says he’s not worried about messaging after the primary. 

 

“The great thing about 2017 is that there is no pivot. Our three candidates have decided who they are a long time and they have campaigned on the same issues. Nobody’s flip-flopped.” 

 

Republican Party officials will introduce their slate of candidates in Richmond Wednesday morning.

 

The low turnout numbers were expected across Virginia's 2,500 precincts.

 

turnout_wrap.mp3
Joe Staniunas talked to some voters today in western Virginia.

At 6am, anyone standing outside one of those 2,500 precincts heard the same announcement:

“The polls are now open.”

And election officials expect just a few thousand voters to walk through those doors, maybe 10 to 12 percent of those who are registered. For example, as of mid-morning, the turnout in Fairfax County was just over 4 percent -- in Montgomery County it was about 3.5 percent.

Many who chose the Democratic ballot, like graduate student Catherine Baylin Duryea of Blacksburg, are still hoping for a strong showing in that party’s primary.

“Because that was really what drove me to vote, to come out today to drive up the turnout to show that Democrats care and we’re showing up and we’re going to keep showing up.”

Many Republican voters admitted that they saw their vote as a way to support President Donald Trump. GOP voter Don Shanklin showed that support by casting a ballot for Trump’s former Virginia campaign manager Corey Stewart for governor.

“Even though he’s a little young he seemed to have a little more aggressive ideas.”

Voters are also picking candidates for lt. governor, for a few House of Delegates contests, and some local offices, like county supervisor.

And you still have time to vote; poll workers won’t stand outside announcing that the polls have closed until 7pm.

This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association

Mallory Noe-Payne is a Radio IQ reporter based in Richmond.