Get your pencils out! It’s election day in Virginia. ICYMI It’s a huge election year, with governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates all up for grabs. The results will have big regional and even national implications.
Regardless of who wins, Virginia will be electing its first female governor, and in the race for lieutenant governor, will be choosing between its first openly gay Republican or first Muslim woman.
Many of the polls remain tight with a last minute texting scandal flipping things up in the attorney general’s race and a congressional redistricting push by Democrats has scrambled the last couple weeks of campaigning.
TLDR: Your vote really matters this election so here’s what you need to know before going to the polls.
✏️ First, Are You Registered To Vote?
Before we go any further, let's check your voter registration status. If you’re not registered already, don’t fear, Virginia also offers same-day voter registration (just don’t forget to bring proof of residence).
🗳️ Where To Vote:
Use this site to find your closest election day voting center. And whatever you do, don’t forget to bring an accepted form of ID (license, passport, employee ID, etc.). Polling places are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. today.
Virginia Democratic candidate for governor, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger greets potential voters at a block party on October 31, 2025 (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
🏃 Who’s Running? Let’s Get Into It!
Statewide Elections:
Governor
This is a big one. This race is widely seen as a referendum on the party in power and a bellwether for the national political mood. It’s between Republican nominee Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and former Democratic congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. In the latest polls Spanberger leads and has a significant funding advantage.
Lieutenant Governor
For lieutenant governor, Democratic State Senator Ghazala Hashmi is facing Republican radio host John Reid, both from the Richmond area. Hashmi would be the first Muslim woman to hold a statewide office in the country and Reid would be the first openly gay Republican to hold a statewide office. The race is tight with Hashmi holding a two point lead over Reid in the latest polls.
Attorney General
Lastly, Republican incumbent Jason S. Miyares is seeking re-election against Democrat candidate Jay Jones, an attorney and former state delegate. A recent scandal involving years-old violent text messages sent by Jones about a political rival almost got him pushed off the ticket, and the latest polls show a neck and neck race.
Local Races:
House of Delegates
All 100 House of Delegates seats are up for grabs this November, but not all are contested. Democrats controlled the House this year and are running candidates in every district while Republicans are running in 83. Find all the candidates here.
Local Elections
Most jurisdictions also have some local races for positions like board of supervisors, school board, city council, and other offices. You can find the full list here.
