Former President Barack Obama drew thousands to Chartway Arena on Saturday to energize Democrats behind Abigail Spanberger in Virginia’s governor’s race. In a post on X, Obama also urged people to vote and praised Spanberger for focusing on “freedoms” and ordinary costs.
Spanberger, a former CIA officer and three-term U.S. representative, currently leads Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears by about 10 points, according to the latest Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey. That same survey from Emerson College Polling showed Democrats benefiting from early voting margins.
Republicans have leaned on President Donald Trump’s turnout machinery in the closing stretch. He recently backed more than 50 GOP candidates ahead of Tuesday’s elections and has promoted support for Virginia Republicans, though he stopped short of naming Earle-Sears in that endorsements list, reported POLITICO. Trump previously joined Gov. Glenn Youngkin for a tele-rally supporting the statewide GOP ticket, according to Fox News and other reports.
The governor’s race in Virginia—one of just two this cycle—has long been read as an early gauge of voter sentiment toward the party in the White House. Spanberger emphasized affordability, public safety and stability in closing messages, while Earle-Sears pressed cultural and tax themes and cast the race as a choice on direction.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. statewide. Early voting ended Saturday.
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