Politics & Government
Tuesday: VA Democrats Go to the Polls
Primaries will determine candidate for Lt. Governor, Attorney General.
Tuesday is Election Day in Virginia for Democrats.
Here is what you need to know if you are heading to the polls for the June 11 primary.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
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Races:
Lieutenant Governor
State Sen. Ralph Northam (D-Norfolk) will face off against Aneesh Chopra, the first U.S. chief technology officer under President Barack Obama.
Although Chopra lacks Northam’s veteran experience in public office, he has more financial support behind him, soundly beating Northam in the most recent fundraising period.
The victor in Tuesday’s primary will share a ticket with Terry McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic Party and Virginia’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate. McAuliffe is running unopposed.
Attorney General
State Sen. Mark Herring (D-Loudoun) is going up against Justin Fairfax, a former federal prosecutor who worked to fight drug and human trafficking in Alexandria.
Like Northam, Herring has experience as an advantage in the race, but Fairfax’s history as a prosecutor has won him looks from big players, including a Washington Post endorsement.
Turnout is historically quite thin in non-presidential year primaries. When McAuliffe ran against Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran in the 2009 democratic primary, turnout was 6.2 percent, according to the Virginia Board of Elections.
Read more about how the fall election for governor, where McAullife will run against Republican Ken Cuccinelli, the current attorney general, will have national impact.
Heading to the polls? Be sure to let us know your thoughts and check back with Patch for election results.
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