Politics

Medill News Service reporters provide live updates from polling places across Northern Virginia on Election Day.

These reports are published in conjunction with the Washington Post.

 

6:42 p.m. — Republicans need ‘better judgment’ and to show respect to win back voter

By Katarzyna Nguyen

NOKESVILLE, Va. — Sara Carlson, a 45-year-old volleyball coach at Kettle Run High School, does not call herself “a one-issue person.” She has voted for both parties in the past, but she voted for only Democrats in this election.

“I’m actually a more conservative-leaning person, but since Donald Trump became president, first time and second time, I haven’t voted for a Republican in a very long time,” Carlson said. 

Carlson said she is “grossed out” by Republicans’ rhetoric, so that Donald Trump will support them.” 

“If anybody ever wants my full support, they really have to have better judgment and treat people with respect,” Carlson said. 

On the chance that Democrats take complete control of the state government through winning the Governor’s Mansion, State Senate, and House of Delegates, she did not like “one party being in full power.”

“In a perfect world, to me, both parties would listen to each other,” Carlson said.

 

6:41 p.m. — Virginia resident votes for Jones to keep Trump in check

By Kally Proctor

NOKESVILLE, Va. – Glen Christian, 72, has been very unhappy with “the presidency, Congress, the Supreme Court, everything,” and said that he’d like to see some of that change.

“I’d like to see a better balance go back again,” Christian said. “I think we’d be a much better country when a balance exists. Right now it’s an imbalance and a lot of people are suffering from this.”

Because of this, Christian said he submitted a straight Democratic ballot, even though he was not happy with some of the things Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, said in his text messages.

“Because of the gentleman in the White House and his attitude basically, I’ll put every Democrat I can in place,” Christian said. “I’m still not happy with what [Jones] said. I wouldn’t have voted for him, but right now I need every Democrat there is to help us all out.”

Christian says the prospect of all branches of the state government being under Democrat control did influence his decision to vote.

“I think all the states that we have with strong Democrats in there, we have a chance of affecting changes [elsewhere],” Christian said.

 

6:32 p.m. — Young voters from Fauquier County turn out for Election Day

By Isabella Jacob and Alison Miller

CATLETT, Va. — Ana Robles, 19, a student at Northern Virginia Community College, said it feels like we are living through politically polarizing times and voted because she sees an increase in discrimination, especially towards transgender people.

Stephen Bruck, 34, a local government employee from Warrenton, Va, agreed. He said discrimination and LGBTQ+ rights were also at the forefront of his concerns when casting his ballot. 

“LGBTQ rights are very important,” Bruck said. “A lot of my family is, and I think it’s even if they weren’t, I think it’s very important that everybody is treated equally, no matter what their beliefs.” 

Others like Braeden Allen, 24, a basketball player for the Virginia Valley Vipers from Warrenton, Va., said he was greatly influenced by his parents and issues that will affect him as he enters the workforce. 

“That’s what a person like me, 24, entering the real world, would vote on,” Allen said. “So I think that’s kind of what brought me out most; taxes and just keeping individual freedoms, individual liberties is very important to me, too.”

 

6:30 p.m. — ‘Faith and family’ supreme for older female voters in Fauquier County

By Alison Miller and Isabella Jacob

CATLETT, Va. – For some older female voters in Fauquier County, religion was key.

“It governs all my decisions,” said Stephanie T., 70, who declined to give her last name. “It rules the way I live.”

She said she landed on Winsome Earle-Sears after hearing the candidate’s views on “faith and family.”

Stephanie T. also said she saw an “opposition” to faith in Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger after Spanberger failed to speak out against Jay Jones’ controversial text messages during the Oct. 9 Virginia gubernatorial debate.

Sheila Wines, 68, also said she saw “Christian values” in Earle-Sears.

“The fact that she believes there’s two genders, female and male, and the fact that she believes that we should not fund and pay for abortions,” Wines said.

Wines said she is nervous about the outcome.

“I pray that when I wake up tomorrow that our Governor will be [Earle-Sears]”, she said. “And I will pray even harder if it is not.”

 

6:28 p.m. — Democrat, GOP voters weigh in on Jay Jones text scandal and political violence

By Philip Lam

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – Democratic voters seemed unfazed, ambivalent, and even defensive over violent text messages sent years ago by Jay Jones that have mired the Attorney General hopeful in controversy.

The Democratic candidate came under fire after leaked texts published in The National Review revealed violent ideations toward then-Speaker of the House of Delegates Todd Gilbert, including desires that he “gets two bullets to the head,” Jones wrote.

But supporters of Jones said the rhetoric wasn’t enough to flip their vote to Republican incumbent Jason Miyares.

Darren Talbot, who supported the Democratic ticket, said Jones’ remarks were “borne out of frustration” due to the GOP’s tendency to send “thoughts and prayers after a school shooting” instead of prioritizing gun reform.

“[Jones] said maybe if those people felt some of the pain these parents did, then maybe they would do something about guns and about red flag laws,” Talbot said.

Other supporters of Jones pointed to President Donald Trump’s past remarks concerning violent rhetoric.

“It’s all smear campaigns. It’s just 30-second soundbites on TV,” James Faber, 56, said. “Our president said worse about his opponents being killed or shot.”

One conservative voter contended Jones’ texts were grounds for disqualification.

“I didn’t like what Mr. Jones said at all about the killing, hoping that children get killed,” Carmela McCann said. “I can’t believe they didn’t force him out of the race.” 

Megan Berryhill, 39, said threats of political violence should concern both sides of the aisle.

“I think it’s awful. And I would feel exactly the same way if it was a Republican saying it,” she said.

 

6:26 p.m. — Shutdown pushes two veterans to vote Democrat

By Desiree Luo

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — The ongoing government shutdown influenced two veterans’ ballots on Tuesday. 

Shane Overstreet, 50, said he served in the army for over 20 years before retiring in 2018. The straight-ticket Democrat voter said the economy and ending the government shutdown were priorities for him. 

“To see the military not receiving paychecks, it’s close to home, and very aggravating to see that,” Overstreet said. 

Fellow veteran Lisa Miller, who served in the Air Force in the 1980s and 90s, called herself a lifelong Republican. But this time, she also voted for all three Democratic candidates. 

The 59-year-old now attends law school online through Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits. Since the shutdown, her counselors have been furloughed, and Miller said she can’t pay for classes next semester. 

Miller doesn’t agree with the Democrats’ platform, but she said the Republicans are “sacrificing the American people to get their points across.” 

“This has just been a test of wills,” she said. “And they just are using us.”

 

6:26 p.m. —  Republican Congressional candidate backs party but says it needs better messengers

By Katareena Roska

DUMFRIES, Va. — Darius Mayfield, 40, is a Republican candidate running for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. Mayfield talked to voters outside First Mount Zion Baptist Church, handing out campaign materials with a smile. 

For Mayfield, unity in a time of political division is an important issue for his platform. He mentioned that he first met Charlie Kirk a month before Kirk died, and said that Kirk was someone he thought bridged political divides.

“I think we need to take a page out of Charlie’s book,” Mayfield said. “I think Charlie showed us a good example of that, you should be willing to talk to everybody.” 

Mayfield added that he’s fully backing his party’s candidates in this election, because “we need Winsome Sears.”

But Mayfield noted that the Republican party might not always have the “right messengers,” and said that’s why he’s running. 

“I am that guy, I am that man,” Mayfield said. “I think there’s a lot of people like me stepping up around the country that you’re going to see in the coming years that are Black, Brown, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, that are on the Republican side and believe in Republican issues.”

Mayfield anticipates a trend in minorities like him and Earle-Sears running as Republicans in the future. To him, it is “disgusting” witnessing people on the left criticizing minorities who are Republicans.

“I think the Democrats have a problem,” Mayfield said. “When you look at the towns that they actually preside over, it shows that a lot of those people they claim to care so much about, especially those Black, Brown, and disenfranchised people are actually in worse positions.”

 

6:22 p.m. — Virginia resident emphasizes cooperation between parties in election

By Kally Proctor

NOKESVILLE, Va. – Jeanine Rhoton, 61, believes that the country needs a more civil dialogue right now. For her, the most important issue in today’s election was having “a good foundation of people who are civil to each other.”

“I am concerned that with the government shutdown and everything, that we’re not voting for people that are willing to reach across the aisle, that we’re not being respectful to each other,” Rhoton said. “I feel like we need some moderate people, we need some people that are willing to negotiate and things like that.”

Along those same lines, Rhoton said she was careful to review each candidate’s policy positions to make sure that “their only campaigning wasn’t against the other person.” 

“I am always concerned about education, so that’s always a big thing for me. I’m at this moment concerned about finances and just funding the government,” Rhoton said. “[But] I wasn’t so much voting specifically on one topic or two topics, it was more about finding people who are civil.”

 

6:20 p.m. — Democrats vote for their party down the ballot

By Lexi Newsom

Several Democratic voters said it was important to elect their party’s candidates down the ballot.

Ashburn voter Marilyn Angonik, 90, said she voted for all Democrats down the ballot to ensure it would be easier for state elected officials to act. 

Although she described attorney general candidate Jay Jones’s texts as “disgusting,” she said she still voted for him to support an all-Democrat electoral slate.

“I have found that when there’s a split in the party, that it’s so much harder to govern,” Angonik said. “I didn’t want to make it harder for Abigail. That’s the only reason I voted for him.”

Others voted for all the Democratic candidates on the ballot to protect their professions.

Samantha Clayborn voted for all Democratic candidates. Working in the health care field, she said she was concerned about Republicans’ medical misinformation and anti-vaccine rhetoric.

“Currently, just seeing what is in place has been very detrimental to health care as a whole,” Clayborn said. “So if we can change that, that would be awesome.”

For a federal worker, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, voting for all the Democratic candidates was personal.

If Democrats are elected in all positions, he said, there may be more political power to force the presidential administration to come to the table and end the shutdown.

“Whether it was Democrat or Republican, the president got involved and got people to the table,” the federal worker said. “Trump does not seem willing to do so, so hopefully, by Democrats sweeping the table, that will force him to come to the table, and then end the government shutdown.”

 

6:11 p.m. — Fauquier County voters are concerned about ICE

By Isabella Jacob and Alison Miller

CATLETT, Va. —  Some Fauquier County voters said they are concerned about ICE’s treatment of immigrants and the Trump administration’s approach to the issue. 

“I’ve worked with students who may possibly have parents that are not here legally and I just think there needs to be a better way,” Jeannie Baier, 57, a teacher from Midland, said. 

John Hilton, 20, a student at Northern Virginia Community College, said his biggest issue with the Trump administration is ICE. He said the agency is acting like a secret police. 

His father, James Hilton, 64, an aircraft mechanic from Midland, Va., agreed with his son.

“The racism and the hatred that it promotes,” James Hilton said. “I’ve never seen a police organization that is allowed to cover their faces and not have any repercussions of their actions. I’ve never seen anything like that in this country, and I hope it’s gone soon and never comes back.”

James Hilton said he sees this hatred in his own community as well.

 

6:11 p.m. — Abortion is ‘the biggest issue’ for young mother

By Alison Miller and Isabella Jacob

CATLETT, Va. – Emilia B., a 32-year-old homemaker from Casanova, said the Republican candidates weren’t the best the party could do. But, her decision was still easy.

“Abortion has to be the biggest issue,” she said, buckling her one-year-old into a carseat. “If you don’t make that the most important issue, then you don’t actually believe what you say you believe.”

She says she voted for Earle-Sears because of the candidate’s stances on abortion. Virginia is the only southern state where abortion is legal past the first trimester. During the only debate of the Virginia governor’s race, Earle-Sears said she would leave the issue to Virginia voters.

“It’s not my view. It’s going to be what the majority of Virginians want,” Earle-Sears said on Oct. 9. “There’s a constitutional amendment, and the voters will make that decision.”

A proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine abortion rights in Virginia’s constitution must go through the General Assembly again for a second passage. The outcome of this election could determine whether the Assembly retains a pro-reproductive freedom majority to send the issue to voters on the statewide ballot in 2026.

But Emilia B. said the House of Delegates race was not important to her.

“And if we don’t care about [abortion], then what else?” she asked, gesturing at campaign signs and voter information tables. “What does any of this matter?”

 

6:10 p.m. — Republicans fail to link Spanberger to Jones texting scandal

By Isaiah Steinberg and Desiree Luo

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – In the weeks before Virginia’s gubernatorial election day, Republicans attempted to link Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger to attorney general candidate Jay Jones, whose scandal over threatening texts nearly derailed his campaign.

As voters arrived at the polls, many were greeted by signs portraying a Spanberger quote — “Let the rage fuel you” — as evidence that the state’s Democrats encouraged political violence.

“I wouldn’t vote for Jay Jones if he was a dog catcher,” said Republican voter Mitchell Thomas, 63.

Despite Republicans’ best efforts, many Democrats voted for Jones anyway, and many who abstained still voted for Spanberger.

Lytwaive Hutchinson, 60, a vice president at a large government services company, voted for Democrats up and down the ballot, despite considering herself an independent. Jones’ text messages gave her pause, but she ultimately voted for him.

“I thought about it, and I still decided that the balance outweighed the issues that came forth with him,” Hutchinson said.

Kenyata Clark, 23, said although she voted straight-ticket Democrat, she “definitely was going to vote for Miyares for a long time.” But discussions with colleagues about the potential to end the government shutdown pushed her to vote for all Democratic candidates.

But despite voting for Spanberger, Clark wanted a clear yes-or-no answer from the candidate on whether she still supported Jones.

“I thought it was very terrible,” Clark said of how Spanberger handled the news. “Honestly, I don’t believe that deflection is the best way to address certain concerns.”

Michael Jones, 37, a furloughed government contractor, said the AG candidate’s text messages did not factor into his vote. 

“I’m sure if you comb through my text messages, I probably have some text messages I wouldn’t want to come out,” he said.

 

5:49 p.m. — Moroccan immigrant votes “for democracy”

By Naomi Taxay

ASHBURN, Va. — “People come to the U.S. for freedoms, for the rule of law,” said Hanane Zelouani, a Moroccan immigrant in her 50s. “Unfortunately, today, we’re seeing some of that being threatened, and this is a very dangerous path.”

Zelouani said she voted “primarily for democracy,” highlighting recent immigration raids as a threat not only against the American dream of better opportunities but also against the country’s democratic ideals.

“I am for the rule of law, but also we need rule of law when implementing our policies to keep our country safe,” she said, referring to “violations” officials have made during immigration arrests. “Humiliation is not acceptable, and it’s not American.”

Having immigrated to the country herself 20 years ago, Zelouani said the ability to vote is part of what makes America stand out. Democracy does not start on the day of the election, she added.

“Democracy survives and thrives when people come out and practice their rights and hold their institutions and elected officials accountable. This is something that I always care to practice, and I urge everybody else to,” Zelouani said.

 

5:48 p.m. — Veteran hopes elected officials prioritize Virginians over politics

By Kally Proctor

BEALETON, Va. – Jim Gehris, 69, a veteran and part-time consultant to the Marine Corps at Quantico, cast a split ticket in today’s election in an effort to vote for the candidates he thought represented his values best.

 “I think that the people that put country over party […] is a person that deserves my vote,” Gehris said.

Several issues brought Gehris to the polls today, but he said the thing that influenced him the most was that one of the candidates seemed to be very pro-Trump.

“I spent 31 years in the Marine Corps, so I’m kind of set in my ways about what I’m looking for in my commander in chief,” Gehris said. “And a commander in chief that tells lies […] is not somebody that I can support. And I can’t support people that support him that are not willing to admit that ‘yeah, maybe he did stretch the truth on that and stretch the truth on this.’”

Above all, Gehris said he hopes that the candidates elected to be governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general will stand up for the people of Virginia, as opposed to “standing up for the next step in their career.”

“I hope that whoever gets elected really comes through with their campaign promises to be for Virginians and not be for [themselves],” Gehris said. “I think that if you’re elected, you should look out for the people who elected you, and that’s not always the case, and that goes to both parties.”

 

5:43 p.m. — Local official stresses importance of early voting, taxes, in local elections

By Gabe Hawkins and Lexi Newsom

ASHBURN, Va. — Laura A. TeKrony, the Little River District supervisor for Loudoun County, said she thought more people voted early in this election than last year’s presidential election, but noted that the in-person turnout for the 2024 election will exceed this year’s.

She also said local Democratic officials have already implemented policies to remove car taxes, which both candidates for governor have campaigned on. In April, the county approved a new budget lowering the personal property tax rate on vehicles, which goes into effect next year.  

TeKrony pointed out inconsistencies in Republican messaging around tax rates for motor vehicles in the county.

“I think a lot of times I hear Republicans saying, ‘Oh, we’re going to get rid of the car tax,’” TeKrony said. “Well, in Loudoun County, we’re getting rid of the car tax on a local level.”

Loudoun County is home to the largest concentration of data centers in the world, which have a significant influence on the area. She added that revenue from data centers should be disbursed to the county’s residents — and that voting Democratic in local elections could help make this happen.

“I’ve been very vocal and a very strong supporter of using the revenue that we get from data centers to at least give relief to our residents,” she said.

 

5:41 p.m. — Husband of federal employee working without pay supports Spanberger

By Isaiah Steinberg

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – For 56-year-old Woodbridge resident James Faber, Virginia’s gubernatorial election was personal.

Faber’s wife is a federal worker who has been working without pay for more than a month, and he trusts Democrat Abigail Spanberger over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears to deliver on the issues that matter to his family.

“(Spanberger) is a woman I trust around my wife’s issues and my daughter’s issues — freedom of choice, cost of living, things of that nature,” Faber said.

Faber criticized Earle-Sears’ focus on the issue of transgender youth’s access to school facilities and sports teams, adding that Republicans should “face the real issues.”

In the wake of the scandal over Jay Jones’ threatening texts, Faber said he wasn’t a big fan of Jones, but that “our president has said worse.”

“It’ll be interesting for a female (governor),” Faber said. “I thought we had a great candidate last time — Kamala and Hillary were strong — but we’re still a divided country.”

 

5:40 p.m. — Independent voter does not want ‘Republicans running the country’

By Katareena Roska

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Janette Brenton, 65, works at Prince William County Schools. She is a registered Democrat but has voted for Republicans before and now leans independent. 

“I would be so embarrassed if Sears would win,” Brenton said, referring to the Republican candidate for governor, Winsome Earle-Sears.

For Brenton, it was essential for the governor’s mansion, the State Senate and House of Delegates to “remain blue.” 

“I am all for the redistricting,” Brenton said. “It’s survival because we cannot let a Republican dominate Congress and Senate.”

Brenton pointed out the current government shutdown and “everything that’s happening, especially in this state.” 

“I do not want Republicans running this country,” Brenton said. “All three branches being run by them, it’s a total disaster – I try not to cuss.”

 

5:39 p.m. — Alexandria Democratic candidates running unopposed focus energy on statewide wins

By Aanika Sawhney

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Commonwealth’s Attorney for Alexandria Bryan Porter and Sheriff Sean Casey are running for reelection unopposed in Alexandria. So instead of worrying about their own races, they’re turning their attention toward statewide democratic wins, rallying support for the governor and seats in the state legislature.

“I’m excited. I think there’s a high turnout,” Casey said, “In Alexandria, our goal as a Democratic Party was to try to push the turnout as high as we could here to help the statewide candidates across the board.” 

Porter and Casey represent the deep blue community, where 77% of the city’s population voted for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential election. Visiting polling stations, they say they aim to engage voters around the whole ticket. 

“It’s really important for us to do well statewide, so that we can push back on a lot of things, primarily what’s going on in D.C. We can only do that if we’re able to win all three offices statewide,” Porter said. “What I’ve been trying to do since I don’t have an opponent in this election is I’ve been trying to focus my resources and time and raising money, making appearances for other candidates like Abigail Spanberger.”

Sheriff Casey has also campaigned with Spanberger, promoting Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention Legislation in the state. 

“I think that there’s been a lot of misinformation out there that Democrats are not united and they’re not together, and I think that’s been a false narrative,” Casey said. 

The two maintain that across the state, Democrats have and will continue to work together, ready to stand up to D.C. Republicans. 

“The Attorney General gets to decide whether or not they’re going to push back legally through lawsuits or joining other lawsuits to kind of push back on the crazy executive actions that have been occurring over in D.C.,” Porter said, “I think obviously that having all of those pieces of government and control of my party would be very helpful, because then we can coordinate and push back on what’s going on.”

 

5:36 p.m. — Democratic voters call on candidates to make Virginia more affordable

By Philip Lam

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Michelle Davis works around 60 to 70 hours a week. Her son, James, is still looking for a part-time job months into the start of his freshman year of college.

For the Davises, affordability and lowering the cost of living is top of mind. Michelle Davis said she wants state leaders to address the high costs of living, “regardless of which party it is.”

“I chose Abigail Spanberger because I think she showed the best quality, and I think she can put Virginia in a more affordable state,” James Davis said.

His mother added that Spanberger has shown “nothing but progress” for Virginia. 

Regardless of which candidate for governor wins, she will become the state’s first female governor.

“It’ll be definitely awesome, period,” Michelle Davis said if Spanberger wins. “For female empowerment, it’s a boost for morale.”

 

5:24 p.m. — First-time Woodbridge voter discovered Spanberger campaign on TikTok

By Isaiah Steinberg

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – First-time voter Andrea Lopez, 19, decided to vote for Democrat Abigail Spanberger after watching her campaign videos on TikTok.

“I’ve been seeing her TikToks — her social media — and that convinced me of what she was saying,” Lopez said. “(Winsome) Earle-Sears, not very much. I don’t think she’s the right one for Virginia.”

What Lopez did see of Earle-Sears, she didn’t like. Lopez said the Republican nominee focused too heavily on tax policy, adding that she opposes Earle-Sears’ position on transgender youth.

“We’re all human,” she said.

While Jay Jones’ threatening text messages did not sway Lopez, Spanberger’s opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies played a role in her decision.

“He’s not a good president for the state or for the country,” Lopez said.

 

5:23 p.m. — Woodbridge voter says potential Democrat triplex is ‘small glimmer of hope’

By Desiree Luo

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Felicia Smith, 39, teared up when she began speaking about why she decided to cast her ballot on Tuesday. 

The mother of three said her twin daughters, who were born in January, have fewer rights than she does. 

“This is not a world I want them to grow up in,” Smith said.

Reproductive rights are important for the real estate worker, who voted straight-ticket Democrat. She said she was admitted into a high-risk pregnancy unit on Christmas Eve last year and stayed there for about a month. 

“I was so worried about my life because I was pregnant and because of who was president,” she said. 

Smith said, “something needs to change fast. And I feel like the easiest way is to do the small local elections.”

She said she wants Democrats in Virginia to do more, such as push back against Republican gerrymandering. Still, the opportunity for Democrats to take the governor’s mansion, state senate and house of delegates is a silver lining for Smith. 

“It’s a small glimmer of hope that will keep the people of Virginia at least a little bit protected,” she said. “I don’t know how much worse this is going to get.”

 

5:19 p.m. — Daughter’s future main driver for government contractor

By Katareena Roska

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Nigel Vega, 37, is a government contractor,  originally from Tennessee. He said he did not have a strong political position in the past.

“I like guns, I like going out and shooting things and being stupid,” Vega said. “And I used to have conservative values, but now it’s just — this is getting ridiculous.”

Today, things have changed for Vega. He said he has a lot of friends who are federal workers and are currently not being paid. He added that many of his friends’ family members have been taken from immigration court mid-trial.

“I’m also a father of a girl who’s 12 years old now,” Vega said. “And she now has less rights than when she was born.”

Vega noted concern over the fact that some lawmakers are contemplating no-fault divorces.

“I’ve slowly seen the downfall of women being able to choose the way they want to live their lives,” Vega said. “Stuff like that, it’s just, I’m done.”

Vega said he was not sure of a victory for Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for governor. 

“I’m not confident in anything,” Vega said. “If I was confident, I wouldn’t show up.”

 

4:45 p.m. — Retiree calls out “sickening” political climate

By Katarzyna Nguyen

NOKESVILLE, Va. — Linda Sexton, a 74-year-old retiree, voted straight Republican down her ballot. 

On Republican candidate for governor Winsome Earle-Sears: “I love her, I certainly love her. The historic part, I didn’t vote for her because she’s female. I voted for her because I think she’s qualified,” Sexton said. “She’s a good lieutenant governor, she’s an ex-Marine, and she’s patriotic, and all that means a lot to me.” 

Sexton is also concerned about political division in the country and the rise of hateful discourse between people of different political views. 

“Everything is racist. Everything is hatred,” Sexton said. “I’m sick of it. I’m a Christian, and they are going so far away from God, it’s sickening.” 

Sexton expressed her hopes for what would come out of today’s election. 

“We should all be able to talk about things without trashing each other,” Sexton said. “I wish we’d let God back in a little bit, and I think this is one of the things that I support so strongly about Trump.”

 

4:33 p.m. — Great Falls voter says more women are desperately needed in office

By Cassie Sun

GREAT FALLS, Va — Retiree Karen Pyles is overjoyed that Virginia will have its first female governor. She voted today at Great Falls Elementary School for Abigail Spanberger because of Spanberger’s ability to listen to people rather than lash out. 

“Women are ideally suited to posts like these,” Pyles said. “I’m like a first-wave feminist, and they seem to have a better grip.” 

She said that she’s ashamed of her generation for voting for leaders who make corporations wealthier rather than helping those in need. 

Pyles said that voting for Jay Jones for Attorney General was a hard decision that required “deep thinking,” adding that she didn’t want to submit to the concept of voting for the lesser of two evils. 

But ultimately, she believed it was worth voting against MAGA-aligned candidates, citing her concern if a Republican won, “that there would be another person in office who follows a person rather than the Constitution.”

 

4:28 p.m. — Ashburn voters weigh in on Democrats having a chance to control state senate, house of delegates and governor’s mansion

By Riddhimaa L. Kodali

Ashburn, Va. — Joe Firestone, 86, has been voting since the 1960s and said the Democrats gaining more control in the governor’s mansion, state senate and house of delegates matters to him. 

While Firestone himself has voted Republican only once, for former President Ronald Reagan over Jimmy Carter, he has previously split his ticket, voting for a Green Party candidate and Democratic candidates. 

“I think the Republicans have been largely a fascist organization,” the retired political scientist said. “The Democrats have their faults…I’ve studied them very carefully… if you have a choice between the two parties, and that itself is a bad system.” 

“In this case, it’s better to vote for the lesser of two evils, and that was the Democrats. I don’t particularly care for the candidates that the Democrats had run.” 

Ayah Mchaar, 25, “hopes it happens,” referring to the Democrats gaining the majority. 

“Yes, the general election is important, but I think the most important is statewide, because that affects people more,” the college student said. “With your everyday, to day life, the state government controls a lot.”

Management worker Will Loman, 34, said he thought that Loudoun County school issues stemmed from the left’s policies and that he “doesn’t really care” if Democrats gain control, “as long as they do good things.”

 

3:59 p.m. — Lifelong Great Falls Republicans split from party

By Sophie Baker

GREAT FALLS, Va. — Richard Bliss turned 81 today and celebrated by heading to the polls with his wife, Joan, both lifelong Republicans who have split from their party to vote largely for Democratic candidates. 

“I’m still a registered Republican, but I am adamantly opposed to what’s happening right now,” Joan Bliss said. “Our democracy is no more.” 

Richard Bliss said President Donald Trump is running the country “like a dictatorship,” and emphasized his disagreement with the mass firing of federal employees and the demolition of the East Wing. 

However, he did not vote for Democratic nominee Jay Jones in the state attorney general race. He said he was not in favor of Jones’ opponent, but couldn’t overlook Jones’ inflammatory texts.

“I don’t know what he was thinking,” Richard Bliss said. “No man with a functioning brain would say things like that.”

 

3:59 p.m. — Mothers and daughters show up for Democrats together

By Aanika Sawhney

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Preetee Singhal, 49, and her mother Sneh, 75, held hands walking into the polling station at George Washington Middle School. 

Singhal said national issues like immigration and the government shutdown were on her mind. 

“I think governors are playing a big role in what’s happening now, and they’re starting to stand up to what’s happening at the federal level,” Singhal said. 

They both voted for Democrats, and Singhal hopes that Abigail Spanberger will stand up to ICE if elected. Singhal’s mother immigrated to the United States from India in 1975. 

“For a while, I was really worried about taking her out for walks, because [ICE] could be anywhere in any neighborhood, and she had a stroke last year, and her English has changed a lot since then,” Singhal said with watery eyes. “Somebody could think that she just came here, or is visiting.” 

Singhal was also hesitant about voting for Attorney General Democratic candidate Jay Jones, something she shared with another immigrant mother-daughter pair.

Anna Pavlova, 47, and her mother, Natalia, 75, are both immigrants from Russia and say they  make a tradition out of voting together every election. 

Pavlova said she wasn’t “thrilled” with the choices for attorney general, and voted for Jay Jones because he was a Democrat in line with her intention to vote for the Democrats down the ticket.

“I heard also about his drunk driving issues, and I felt like, frankly, this is not the time for the Democratic Party to pick bad candidates,” Pavlova said. “This is the time to vet candidates really, really well and to deliver the best candidates that they can.”

Pavlova said she felt confident in supporting the Democratic gubernatorial candidate because she wanted a change in governor and Spanberger’s campaign message resonated with her. Though she questioned the Democratic Party’s vision in general.

“We’re moving to a one-party system here,” Pavlova said. 

Her mother echoed the sentiment on a national level. 

“I don’t see very good candidates, and I feel sometimes myself, as in my previous country, with no really good choice,” Natalia added.

 

3:50 p.m. — Fairfax voters reject GOP over fears of democratic collapse

By Ashley Wong

MCLEAN, Va. — For some Fairfax County voters, today’s election was less about party loyalty and more about the rule of law.

“It’s straightforward: Trump is a lunatic, and I want to send a message,” said Rob Jacobsen, 83, a retired physicist who emigrated from South Africa 40 years ago. “There has been a complete degradation of the democratic system. The Supreme Court has become political.”

Jacobsen said he had long prided himself on voting for candidates rather than parties, but for the first time in his life, cast his ballot entirely for Democrats.

“I just want my vote to tell the other party that this is unacceptable. We can’t just take an axe to America,” he said.

Alex Q., a furloughed federal lawyer who declined to give his last name for fear of losing his job, echoed his sentiments.

“I’m saying no to all things Trump and all things red,” he said. “America is turning into an autocracy and the integrity of our elections is a big deal.”

 

3:25 p.m. — “Everyday life gives people PTSD,” says 9/11 survivor voting blue

By Ashley Wong

MCLEAN, Va. –“I have PTSD because I was at the Pentagon during 9/11, but I think people are going to have PTSD these days just from worrying about daily life,” said Julie Tutwiler, 69, a retired federal employee who voted a straight Democratic ballot in Fairfax County.

Tutwiler, who spent more than a decade working for the Pentagon and the International Trade Commission, said her vote was driven by what she called the country’s “cruel and inhumane” political atmosphere.

“There’s a lot of ‘othering’ going on in America, where people are pushing away people who don’t look like them, or people who think about sex differently,” she said. “We need to get back to talking to each other.”

She said federal workers and immigration issues were top of mind, noting that her daughter-in-law had just joined the National Park Service before the recent government shutdown.

“She was so excited to move to the District, just to twiddle her thumbs now,” Tutwiler said. “It’s painful to see how democracy is being dismantled, and I think Spanberger will get it done,” she added. “She’s the type of person to say: “We need to talk.”

 

3:11 p.m. — ‘They have a right to be trans’: Spanberger voters push back on GOP attacks on transgender bathroom policies

By Philip Lam

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Calls from GOP gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears to ban transgender students from using cisgender bathrooms are “way more out of proportion,” according to Democratic voter Darren Talbot.

“[The Republicans] make it sound like there’s thousands and thousands of people doing that,” Talbot said. “It’s just a gimmick, just to try to scare people.”

Kim Talbot, who voted with her husband Darren, said transgender people must proactively choose to transition, a difficult decision that is often informed by prior “pain in their lives.”

“They choose to make a change in their lives,” she said. “They don’t do it just willy-nilly.”

But conservatives argue Democrats have gone too far with transgender bathroom policies. Carmela McCann, 81, said she is worried for her grandchildren.

“I don’t want [transgender people] in my granddaughter’s dressing rooms and undressing themselves,” McCann said. “It’s a joke.”

 

3:01 p.m. —  Virginia Republicans not thrilled about Earle-Sears, predict Spanberger victory

By Isaiah Steinberg and Katareena Roska

DUMFRIES, Va. – Some Virginians who voted for Winsome Earle-Sears on Tuesday didn’t offer glowing endorsements of the Republican nominee.

“I wish I had more choices. I think the whole thing’s a mess,” said Bill Stem, a 73-year-old retired engineer from Dumfries. “We’re all going to hell in a handbasket, it seems.”

Even among those who offered wholehearted enthusiasm for Earle-Sears, many felt she didn’t have a strong chance of victory in a state where polling suggests a likely victory for her opponent, Abigail Spanberger.

“The state of Virginia is pretty much blue, so it’s a very contentious race,” said 66-year-old Pamela Diamond, a Republican.

Timothy Clemmons, of Woodbridge, is a disabled Navy veteran and registered Republican.

“She’s not a polished politician,” Clemmons said of Earle-Sears. “She’s just a person.”

Stephanie Prettol, 72, of Lake Ridge, is a registered Republican but voted for Spanberger largely due to her name recognition.

“I like Winsome,” Prettol said. “I can’t even pronounce her last name. I just haven’t heard much about her.”

Some Earle-Sears voters, like Mitchell Thomas, 63, strongly supported Earle-Sears’ positions and believed she could win — Thomas estimated her odds at 60%.

“I’m sick of people just saying, ‘Oh, I hate Trump.’ It’s crap,” Thomas said. “You’ve got no policy other than that.”

 

2:33 p.m. — Contractor votes Republican because of illegal immigration, Jones’ text messages

By Katarzyna Nguyen

BEALETON, Va. — Jesse Puckett, a 53-year-old contractor, says he’s voting for “common sense” in this year’s election.

“While I was not impressed with Winsome’s TV personality, I thought Winsome [Earle-Sears] had common sense compared to [Abigail] Spanberger,” Puckett said.

As a contractor, he is open to hiring immigrants but is concerned about illegal immigration. He says that he doesn’t want Virginia to be a sanctuary state.

“If an employer gets caught or if he hires somebody with illegal papers, he’ll be held liable,” Puckett said. “The people that let them through the border, they’re off scott-free. They put the migrants at risk, and they put contractors and employers at risk.” 

Puckett said he’s concerned that Spanberger did not denounce Democrat attorney general candidate Jay Jones for his text messages. The messages, made public in October, included violent statements against Republican Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert.

“The only thing I know about that guy is the text messages, and he should be nowhere near the office,” Puckett said. “That’s the one of the reasons why I am here today is because Spanberger wouldn’t condemn what he said.”

 

2:25 p.m. —  LGBTQ+ couple worried about rights under possible Earle-Sears term

By Katareena Roska

DUMFRIES — Imani Moore, a 25-year-old resident who identifies as a non-binary lesbian, said they’re disappointed in the Republican candidate for governor Winsome Earle-Sears’ anti-trans agenda.

“As a black person, I would imagine that you would care more about others because you know we’re so marginalized,” they said about Earle-Sears, who is a Black woman. 

Kaira Sullivan, Moore’s wife, accompanied them at First Mount Zion Baptist Church, their local polling place. Sullivan, 25, is a transgender woman who works in the military. 

She said she expected a lot of the same anti-trans policies from an Earle-Sears gubernatorial term that she had witnessed under current Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and President Donald Trump. 

Both voted for all Democratic candidates on their ballots. They also said the controversy surrounding Jay Jones’ texts did not affect their votes. 

“I can see how it would change someone’s mind,” Moore said. “But for me, I don’t really care,” they said with a laugh.

Sullivan agreed with Moore. She added it was “nothing compared to Republican comments in the past.”

“It didn’t really affect me, because Republicans say stuff like that every other day,” Sullivan said. “I definitely think the comments probably went a bit too far.”

 

2:14 p.m. — Dumfries Republican supports Earle-Sears but is less confident about public officials

By Philip Lam

DUMFRIES – Pamela Diamond smiled as she took her granddaughter to the polls to experience the voting process, but said she is less enthusiastic about the outcome of the race.

“I’m not really sure, because the state of Virginia is pretty much blue, so it’s a very contentious race,” she said.

Diamond, 66, also expressed skepticism about politicians representing Virginians at the state and national levels.

“It’s the person that can get the job done, that will represent what the people want, not go in and do what they want,” she said.

While Diamond said she has observed politicians in Washington “really ignore what the people want,” she is hopeful GOP gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears will do the opposite.

“I get the impression that she is going to support what the citizens of Virginia want, like tax issues,” she said.

 

2:06 p.m. — Straight-ticket Republican voter prioritizes immigration

By Desiree Luo

DUMFRIES, Va. — Longtime Virginia resident Martha Hall decided to vote for Winsome Earle-Sears after seeing the Republican candidate speak on television. 

Hall said she has lived in the Woodbridge area since 1965. Although she considers herself “very much conservative,” the 88 year-old voter isn’t committed to a particular party. 

Instead, Hall said she was drawn to Earle-Sears’ “honest” personality, which she witnessed through “a few of her speeches on television.” 

“I’m not on this side or that side,” Hall said. “I have a mind and if I like a person in the Democratic party that I think would do the best, that’s where I’ll vote.”

But in this election cycle, Hall voted straight-ticket Republican. Her current displeasure with the Democratic party stems from the Biden administration’s immigration policies, which she called “disastrous.” She said she voted for Trump in 2024. 

Right now, Hall said the U.S. is “an absolute mess” in part due to illegal immigration. And she sees Earle-Sears as someone who can right the ship. 

“I like her a lot,” Hall said. “Actually, I’m not sure who she’s running against.”

 

2:05 p.m. — Gay McLean voter says Winsome Earle-Sears a threat to his livelihood

By Misha Manjuran Oberoi

MCLEAN, Va. — Gideon M., 60, said he’s “very suspicious” of gay Republicans like John Reid, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, as an openly gay man himself. 

“I don’t know what they stand for, and they just certainly don’t stand for me,” Gideon said. “I think it’s all for personal gain, power — it’s got nothing to do with principle or political or democratic ideals.” 

Gideon voted Democrat down the ballot and emphasized his disdain for the Republican party’s values, calling them morally and ethically corrupt. 

He feels the party doesn’t represent any of the Christian values that it claims to represent, and called Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican candidate for governor, a bigot. 

“I’m an older gay man in a multi-racial relationship and she’s a threat to my livelihood,” Gideon said. “I’m strongly protective of trans rights and I feel that the Republicans have blown this out of proportion — that’s the only argument they have.”

 

1:57 p.m. — Dumfries Republican voters list transgender youth policy among top issues

By Isaiah Steinberg

DUMFRIES, Va. – Voters at First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries expressed concerns about transgender girls in girls’ locker rooms — a refrain central to Republican Winsome Earle-Sears’ gubernatorial campaign.

“I’ve got three grandchildren. They’re all girls,” said Mitchell Thomas, 63. “I don’t want boys in the locker rooms. I don’t want them playing against boys.”

The issue has been central to state politics since at least 2022, when Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin began rolling back protections for transgender students in public schools. Recent polls in Virginia and nationwide show that most voters do not rank transgender issues highly in their list of priorities.

In Dumfries, however, Republican voters consistently mentioned Earle-Sears’ position on transgender youth as an important issue.

“If your chromosome says you’re male, you’re male, and you need to stay within your — I mean, that that can really intimidate young girls. It is a big issue,” said Brenda Moreland, 66. “(If) they have a separate bathroom for the transgenders, good, but don’t mix the boys in with the girls unless they want it.”

Francis Mullen, 90, went to the polls Tuesday to “keep the state Republican.” Mullen said Earle-Sears “touched all the bases,” and cited “girls in boys’ bathrooms” along with education as his primary issue.

“The polls always under-report Republicans, so I think she has a pretty good shot,” Mullen said.

 

1:28 p.m. — Traditional split-ticket voter chooses all Democrats because of dislike for Trump

By Cassie Sun

MCLEAN, Va — Retired journalist Brian Gallagher, 77, refers to himself as a pragmatic centrist. He has voted every year since he turned 21 and he says it’s almost always been a mixed ticket until this year.

“I have long been an avid ticket splitter, but Trump has turned me into a party-line voter,” Gallagher said. He called Jay Jones’ controversial text messages “ridiculous” but decided his distaste for Trump outweighed his concerns. “I had to gag down that democratic attorney general candidate but concluded that Trump has done so many offensive things that I could live with it.”

 

1:25 p.m. — Virginia retiree spurred to vote by government shutdown

By Kally Proctor

BEALETON, Va. – Debbie Olinger, 70, a retired banker, came out to vote today in part because of the government shutdown. Olinger expressed her displeasure with what she called the “fighting” and “finger-pointing” in Congress.

“I’m not happy about it, but what can you do right now?” Olinger said. “You just vote. That’s the only course you’ve got, so everybody comes to vote.”

Olinger says that the effects of the shutdown are “the only thing right now that’s absorbed my thoughts.”

“My son works for the government. He’s considered essential, so he’s working but he’s not getting paid,” Olinger said. “He has a cushion there, but he’s one of the lucky ones. There are so many people out there that don’t [have a cushion], they’re working paycheck to paycheck.”

Olinger expressed her hopes for the outcome of this election, saying that she wants whoever is elected to be able to collaborate across party lines to improve things for Virginians.

“My main thing is I want them to work together better,” Olinger said. “That’s it. I think that’s everybody’s hope.”

 

1:25 p.m. — Split-Ticket Republicans in McLean want the state to stay conservative

By Ashley Wong

MCLEAN, Va. — Solomon Turan, 35, a doctor who emigrated from Turkey and a first-time voter, said his ballot was guided by a desire to “keep the governor Republican.”

“I don’t believe in the (Democrat) public school stuff,” Turan said, holding a toddler in his arms as he left the voting booth at the Spring Hill Recreation Center.

“I voted Winsome for governor, but I voted for the lady Lieutenant Governor [the Democratic candidate, Ghazala Hashmi]… it will be balanced,” he added, without elaborating on his reasoning.

Turan was joined by a relative, Lawanda Turan, 70, a retired real estate developer, who echoed his leanings.

“I want to keep the state of Virginia conservative… The Republicans will expand more jobs, while the Democrats only spend more money,” she said.

For attorney general, both said they supported Republican Jason Miyares after being put off by text messages from his opponent, Jay Jones.

Jones has faced criticism over text messages from 2022 in which he appeared to fantasize about shooting then–House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his children.

“These text messages are jokes to share (with) good friends… it’s not normal language,” the Turans said.

 

1:18 p.m. —  Republican votes for Democrats across ballot without hesitation

By Aanika Sawhney

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Aleesha Dillion, 28, a registered Republican, voted Democratic all down her ballot because she wants to elect candidates who will support her pick for governor, Abigail Spanberger.

She watched former President Barack Obama’s rally with Spanberger on Nov. 1, and said Spanberger’s desire to in expand education access, support a woman’s right to choose, and implement gun laws in Virginia aligned with her own beliefs.

“I consider myself a Christian, but I believe that that means that we take care of the poor and that we think about the less fortunate, and that we take care of immigrants and respect them,” Dillion said, “So whichever party is going to do those things is who I’m going to vote for.”

Dillion debated her choice for attorney general and said she saw “bad spirit” reflected in Democratic candidate Jay Jones’ released text messages. Ultimately, she still voted for him because she was concerned Republican candidate Jason Miyares would hinder Spanberger’s progress. 

Having had conversations about voting with the Democratic party with family and friends, despite being a Republican, Dillion says her communities agree on big picture issues, and wants to engage in more conversations to find the middle ground. 

“I understand that a lot of rural Republicans and those outside of big cities feel unheard. So I just think we have to get more involved on a local level,” Dillon said. 

She said she has always identified as a voter willing to hear from other parties, and this was something she said she reflected on during the last presidential election. 

As far as voting with Democrats, she said: “I don’t think it’s the first time, but it certainly won’t be the last.”

 

1:13 p.m. — McLean South Asian voters keen to see more representation

By Misha Manjuran Oberoi

MCLEAN, Va. — Seemi Andrabi, 58, originally from Pakistan, is keen to see Democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate Ghazala Hashmi be the first Muslim woman to take statewide office. 

“She brings people together,” Andrabi said. “She’s won twice in a Republican district and she likes to, you know, take people along, and I think she’s going to be good for the state.”

While Andrabi and her husband Imran, 63, haven’t always voted Democrat, they don’t automatically support Republicans either. 

Andrabi said, for her, the candidate has to “earn the vote.” 

Although both voted Democratic down the ballot, Imran said he had to “hold his nose” while voting for Attorney General Democratic candidate Jay Jones due to the recent text scandal surrounding him.

Andrabi said she dislikes the current national Democratic leadership, with one of the reasons being their lack of support for Zohran Mamdani, Democratic nominee in New York City’s mayoral race.

“They’re not supporting him — they’re being weasels basically,” Andrabi said. “It’s cowardice.” 

The couple said they feel strongly about more Muslim and South Asian representation in politics and appreciate candidates like Mamdani who hold true to their values. 

“If as minorities, if we don’t participate in the broader conversation, then we’re going to get what we’re getting,” Imran said.

 

12:59 p.m. — McLean Republicans prioritize voting against Dems

By Sophie Baker

MCLEAN, Va. — A self-proclaimed socialist in his youth, Nicholas Kalis, 70, says he grew disillusioned with the Democratic Party and now votes Republican.  

“I want to make sure the Democrats don’t win,” said Kalis, who voted for Republicans down the ballot on Tuesday. “They’re basically socialists. They don’t understand our American history or our culture.”

Kalis particularly disliked Democrats’ handling of transgender rights and pronoun use. He said his views on the Trump administration and government shutdown did not influence his decision as “these are state races.”

John Hale, 86, similarly wasn’t influenced by his thoughts on the Trump administration. Hale voted Republican down the ballot, focusing on countering candidates he disliked.  

Hale said he voted against Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for Governor, because of what he perceived as her refusal to answer questions of “substance” relating to immigration, law enforcement and the economy. 

 

12:55 p.m. — Fauquier County Voters motivated by immigration

By Isabella Jacob and Alison Miller

BEALETON, VA – Voters at the Family Worship Center in Bealeton, Va. say they were driven to the polls over the issue of immigration. 

“To have our country flooded with people that should have come in legally it’s just not right,” Cheri Hill, 69, said. ”We’re all paying for it.”

Hill says that undocumented immigration is costing Americans. Though she was not a supporter of President Trump during his first term, she agrees with his approach to tackling immigration this time around. 

“I am very proud of him this term,” Hill said. 

On the other hand, Kevin Oriol, 59, a DJ who recently moved from New York City to Goldvein, Va., said immigration is what drove him to vote today. 

“I think this country was based on immigrants coming into this country and helping out,” Oriol said. “So I think that right now it’s a travesty. It’s tragic what’s going on, especially coming from a Latin background.”

 

12:18 p.m. — Jones texts influence libertarian voter

By Desiree Luo

WOODRIDGE, Va. — Megan Berryhill, 39, said political parties don’t often drive her choices at the ballot box. But she voted straight-ticket Republican at Westridge Elementary School on Tuesday. 

Leaning libertarian does not lend itself to many candidate options, she said. While she agrees with some Republican economic policies and Winsome Earle-Sears’ anti-abortion stance, it wasn’t policy issues that pushed her to vote for all Republicans. 

“There’s a lot of negative, vitriolic type of speech happening, and I found that this time, it tended to be more on the Democrat side,” Berryhill said. 

Berryhill was referring to Jay Jones’ violent text messages, which she called “awful.” She said she would feel the same way if a Republican candidate had sent them. 

“It has nothing to do with the side,” she said. 

And she said she thinks President Donald Trump contributes to the hostile environment at times.  

“I don’t love everything that he does and says,” Berryhill said. 

 

12:14 p.m. — In Fauquier County, Transgender issues on voters’ minds

By Alison Miller and and Isabella Jacob

BEALETON, Va. – “I haven’t heard anybody come out and say I’m against men in women’s sports,” Robert Hill, 72, retired resident from Bealeton, said.

Robert and Cheri Hill, 69, retired, emphasized their support for the Republican ticket this election. A major issue driving their support was their beliefs about the transgender community.

“He’s a man and I’m a woman and that’s the way it should be,” Cheri Hill said.

Cheri Hill said she believes Democrats’ values have changed for the worse and are “not decent” after some candidates’ continued support of transgender people. They both said that the entire party falls in line with this type of thinking.

“They’re all on the same ship,” Robert Hill said.

Other residents like Joan Erbe, 85, a retiree from Goldvein, also emphasized her concern for Democratic support of transgender rights. Erbe said she mostly votes Republican, but an issue that brought her out was her worries about transgender people coming into contact with her own family. She said she’s concerned her great-grandkids might date someone who is transgender.

“You know what I told them? ‘You better bring them to Mom first and I’ll look at them first for you,” Erbe said.

 

12:12 p.m. — Voters in Bealeton point to shutdown as reason for vote

By Alison Miller and Isabella Jacob

BEALETON, Va. – At Family Worship Center in Bealeton, Barbara and David Kinsey walked out of the polls hand-in-hand with their granddaughter, Rose. The couple said that supporting their family and families across Virginia during the government shutdown was the reason they came out to vote.

“Young people are scared because they can’t afford anything,” said Barbara Kinsey, 63.

Both pointed to slashed SNAP funding. The Trump administration said it would only fund half of SNAP benefits during the shutdown. Some of the couple’s close friends receive SNAP benefits.

“You look at Mike Johnson, and he’s ordered the House of Representatives not to come to work for six weeks, and they’re getting paid,” said David Kinsey, 64. “We’ve got 42 million people possibly going to, you know, go hungry, but they’re sitting at home getting paid. Why are they getting paid? Take their paychecks away.”

He said the economy was another motivator.

“When I was the age of my children, I bought my third house,” he said. “My children are struggling to even afford a house, much less buy one.”

 

11:55 a.m. — Education a priority for Woodbridge voter

By Desiree Luo

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Education was at the forefront of Tara Little’s mind as she cast her vote at Westridge Elementary School on Tuesday morning.

The 53-year-old elementary school teacher said she voted for Abigail Spanberger based on the Democratic candidate’s support for salary increases for educators, caps on class size, and schools’ autonomy over curriculum. 

“This is expensive here in Virginia, and educators are the last people to really have a competitive salary,” Little said. 

Jay Jones’ violent text messages did not deter Little from voting straight-ticket Democrat. She said Spanberger’s consistent platform on education was enough to earn her vote for all the Democratic candidates on the ballot. 

“I’m an educator by profession, and based on the platforms, she had the best support for educators,” Little said.

 

11:48 a.m. — “I voted for person, not party”: Lifelong Republican turns Democrat after being laid off from DOGE

By Ashley Wong

MCLEAN, Va. – Victoria H., 54, a lifelong Republican, switched her vote to the Democratic Party for personal reasons.

“I was laid off from my government job because DOGE came in and cut off all my (former agency’s) funding,” she added. “The president basically eliminated what used to be my career,” she said.

Today, the former government contractor is a self-identified ‘solopreneur’ helping people transition between jobs.

Noting a new influx of people lining up outside the Virginia Employment Commission since the Trump administration took office, she was motivated to vote for Spanberger, a candidate that she believed had a “good working history.”While Victoria H., who refused to give her last name for personal reasons, used to work as an ‘affirmative action specialist’, she noted that it was ‘interesting’ that she voted for a white female governor today and not a Black female Republican.

“I want to let the skills speak for themselves. So today I voted for person, not party,” she added.

 

11:47 a.m. — Jay Jones text messages ‘disgusting’ but not a dealbreaker for Democratic voters

By Lexi Newsom and Gabe Hawkins

Ashburn, Va. — Ashburn voter Marilyn Angonik said that while she was “disgusted” by attorney general candidate Jay Jones’ text messages, she still voted Democratic down the ballot.

“It makes me terribly upset,” Angonik said. “I’m disgusted with that. He did apologize. I hope it was just a temporary screw up.”

In a set of leaked text messages published in the National Review, Jones considered shooting then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert.

Angonik said the texting scandal was not enough to override her concerns about the rising costs of housing, insurance and food, which motivated her to vote Democratic.

“I’m very upset about the people who are going hungry because we don’t release the money,” Angonik said. “There’s no excuse in this world for someone to be hungry. In this country, it’s unreal that we have put up roadblocks for that.”

Angonik added that she cast her vote for Jones to support gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger and avoid a split electorate, which could make it harder to pass state legislation.

 

11:46 a.m. — Brambleton voter said Jay Jones text scandal isn’t enough to vote for Republicans

By Riddhimaa Kodali

Brambleton, Va. — Retired retail professional Evelyn Ross, 70, was not hesitant to express her support for Democrats at her polling place, Creighton’s Corner Elementary School. 

The Alexandria native said that under the current Trump administration, “the clock is turning backwards” for minorities and Black Americans like her. 

If Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears wins the gubernatorial election, she would become the first Black female governor in the nation. However, Ross said while it’s  “wonderful” to see Black people progress, progress is more than just representation. 

She added that Republicans highlighting someone’s negativity isn’t enough for her to vote for them, referring to Democrat Attorney General candidate Jay Jones’ text scandal. 

“That’s childish to me,” she said.  “If you’re saying, ‘oh he did this – so vote for me,’ that’s not enough, I want to know what you [are] doing.”

 

11:46 a.m. — Abortion rights, Spanberger voters acknowledge historic gubernatorial race

By Desiree Luo

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Kenyata Clark brought her 20-month-old daughter, Amara, along to cast her vote at Westridge Elementary School on Tuesday.  

The 23-year-old grant writer said she voted for Abigail Spanberger based on the Democrat’s stance on abortion rights. Although she said Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin has not hindered women’s rights, Winsome Earle-Sears could be different. 

“I just hope to see us not going backwards,” Clark said. 

Denait Ghirmay, also 23, said women’s rights were a priority for her. Like Clark, Ghirmay also supports abortion rights and said she voted for Spanberger. 

But the grocery store employee said, although she disagrees with the Republican platform, having a woman as governor would be historic. 

“That is definitely a win either way the election plays out,” Ghirmay said. 

With her daughter in her arms, Clark smiled when asked about the significance of two women gubernatorial candidates. 

“It made me feel like I could run for governor one day,” she said.

 

11:40 a.m. — 90-year-old makes effort to vote split ticket in person

By Aanika Sawhney

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – 90-year-old Helen Allen went to the polls in person at the Mt Vernon Recreation Center with traffic and rising living costs on her mind. 

Allen, a former Democrat and now independent, voted for Abigail Spanberger.

“Even though I don’t trust Democrats, she’s good,” Allen said. “You vote for a person, not for a party.”

Allen is an immigrant from Taiwan who came to the United States legally as a student. She said on a national level, she somewhat agrees with Trump on immigration. 

“At least he’s doing something. Biden didn’t do anything,” Allen said. 

Allen voted for the Republican Attorney General candidate, Jason Miyares. Democrat Jay Jones did not impress her.   

“I saw him on the TV. I didn’t like him.”

 

11:30 a.m. — Independent voter praises GOP’s handling of Virginia’s economy, supports changes to education

By Philip Lam

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Mark Hanna, 74, said he voted a split ticket as an Independent, choosing the “best person” he thinks can steer Virginia’s economy. He did not name who he voted for.

“We have a budget surplus, a lot of businesses came into the state the last four years, so I think the Republicans have done really well,” Hanna said.

Hanna said he supports Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears’s stances on education, which he says should be focused on “reading, writing, and arithmetic.”

“Take all the, some of the BS, woke stuff out of the schools,” he said.

Hanna added that he thinks young students should not be exposed to issues surrounding transgender rights in schools.

“I don’t think it belongs in an elementary school,” he said. “[Transgender] people should have rights like everybody else, but keep it out of schools.”

 

11:26 a.m. — “Everything in general is wrong”

By Gabe Hawkins and Lexi Newsom

ASHBURN, Va.  — Data Analyst Adam Kuntz voted for Democrats down the ballot, criticizing the current trajectory of government at all levels. He said he was frustrated with the political landscape.

“Everything in general is wrong,” he said. “We need a backstop to what’s currently happening. And I’d like to see at least local and state government be responsive,” he added. 

Frustrated by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger’s proposed policies, Mark Petersburg voted for Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears. Petersburg criticized Spanberger’s stance on abortion and appreciated Earle-Sears’ proposed ban on allowing transgender women to use women’s bathrooms. 

He also condemned Spanberger’s “unwillingness to condemn her colleague running for attorney general for wanting to basically assassinate former Speaker of the House.”

 

11:18 a.m. — Mom of two votes Democrat after voting Republican last governor’s race

By Katarzyna Nguyen

BEALETON, Va. — Self-employed accountant and mom of two, Nicole Guskiewicz, 46, voted for Republican Glenn Youngkin in the last gubernatorial election in 2021. This year, she says she’s going to vote for Abigail Spanberger for governor because of what she views as Youngkin’s failures to fix education in Virginia. 

Guskiewicz said she has lived in multiple states across the country, including Illinois, Maryland and Pennsylvania, and believes the Virginia education system is “terrible, absolutely really, really bad.” She is especially concerned about low pay for teachers.

“I own a business [coffee shop], and I hire teachers as their second job because they can’t afford to pay the bills,” Guskiewicz said. “We have teachers working a second job as baristas because they can’t pay the bills as teachers.”

As for the other races, she said she would vote down the ticket for Democrats.

“I’m done with the Republican party right now,” Guskiewicz said.

 

11:10 a.m. —  Locker rooms on top of Brambleton voters’ minds

By Naomi Taxay

BRAMBLETON, Va. — Multiple voters exiting a Brambleton polling place cited “locker rooms” as the most important issue for casting their votes.

Data center worker Kelvin Knox, 38, said he wanted his daughters to have “a safe space to be able to change and not feel violated” by biological males in their locker rooms.

Jin Ro, 63, who works at a hospital, said she voted on her conservative values and encouraged other mothers who weren’t intending to vote to go to the polls “for the safety of the children.

Systems administrator Adam Cranston, 50, has two girls who play soccer and said “protecting women in sports” influenced his voting across the ballot.

Federal government employee Billy Pierce, 68, who is currently furloughed due to the government shutdown, said he is voting against Abigail Spanberger because she has leaned in the direction of allowing “boys in girl locker rooms” in the past.

 

11:06 a.m. — Neal McBride cites longtime opposition to Trump in voting for Spanberger

By Isaiah Steinberg

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Neal McBride, 85, of Woodbridge, said he voted for Democrat Abigail Spanberger because President Donald Trump’s administration is “not very helpful to regular people.”

Growing up in New York, McBride said he never liked Trump.

“We knew about the family and all of his bankruptcies and his illegal representation of his apartment complex, discouraging Black people — it goes way back,” McBride said.

McBride said he mostly liked Governor Glenn Youngkin, who he viewed as a moderate, but he is confident that Spanberger will be Virginia’s next governor.

“I’m feeling good about the governor’s chances in Virginia,” McBride said. “Most important, everything the Trump administration is doing is not really right.”

 

11:06 a.m. — Indifferent lifelong Democrat wants Tysons casino

By Ashley Wong

MCLEAN, Va. — “I voted today because we have a really bad president, but honestly, I don’t know what this election means to me,” said Karen Sweet, a retiree in her 70s. She emphasized her support for Abigail Spanberger and Fairfax County delegate Rip Sullivan.

“I am just sick and tired of the emails and texts I’ve been getting from both parties and am so happy that it’s ending today,” Sweet added.

One thing she felt was unsupported by voting on the Democratic party line was her support for the construction of the Tysons casino, a proposed development that has been put on hold by a Virginia House subcommittee. “The closest casino is in Maryland, and I’d like for one to be closer, ” she added, stating that she felt unrepresented in her opinion while voting on the Democratic party line.

 

11:01 a.m. — Disabled veteran concerned about transgender athletes, says VA electorate is not “enthusiastic”

By Katareena Roska

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Timothy Clemens, a disabled Navy veteran, came out to his local polling place with one issue on his mind.

“You have to have a special sickness in the head to think that men should compete in women’s sports,” Clemens said. “I’m a father of a daughter and I just think it’s really sick.” As a registered Republican, Clemens voted for Earle-Sears.

“Maybe I’m old school,” Clemens said. “And maybe the entire world has gone mad, but I’m not changing.

Clemens added that “she’s not a polished politician.” But he was moved by her service as a Marine. Clemens said he spent 25 years at sea on four destroyers, “defending the very rights people are using today.”

“I’ve lived in this neighborhood since 2002, this is not a turnout,” Clemens said. “I don’t think people on either side are enthusiastic about the candidates.”

 

11:01 a.m. — Woodbridge voter calls support for Spanberger ‘an easy decision’

By Isaiah Steinberg

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Richard Westley, 78, of Woodbridge, supported Democrat Abigail Spanberger because of her record representing him in Congress.

“The country’s in turmoil with what’s going on with the presidential situation. We need to get back to being a democracy versus what’s going on,” Westley said. “I would’ve been voting for Abigail anyway. She’s been our representative, and she was on top of the game. She’s got the credentials, so it made it a very easy decision.”

For Westley, Republican Winsome Earle-Sears’ signature issue of transgender athletes was low on his list of priorities.

“It’s an issue,” he said. “But there are probably 20 issues, and it would be number 20.”

Westley had nothing negative to say about Governor Glenn Youngkin, but said Earle-Sears was “not a strong candidate.”

“I don’t think she did much as lieutenant governor and I don’t think there’s any reason for me to support her,” Westley said. “The economy has not improved. We’re talking about 401(k)s, but there’s many people who don’t have 401(k)s, and they’re the ones that are suffering.”

 

10:56 a.m. — Independent voter in Alexandria goes Democrat down the ticket

By Aanika Sawhney

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Clarence Dylan, 56, grew up a Republican in rural Colorado but is now an independent. Today, he voted Democrat. 

“Spanberger, I think, is well known,” Clarence said, “I was really happy that she got the nomination, because I like the idea of a moderate politician, really tired of the strong partisan politics.”

He said he doesn’t think the current Republican Party holds real conservative values, and was unclear what Winsome Earle-Sears stands for. 

“It’s been hard to pin down Sears on what she actually supports,” Clarence said, “She seems to be kind of responding to whatever her crowd is telling her they want at the time.”

Although he still decided to vote for the democratic Lieutenant Governor candidate Ghazala Hashmi, he looked forward to the possibility of a divided executive between parties. Dylan was not phased by the controversy over Attorney General candidate Jay Jones’ texts. 

“We’ve all said something stupid online, so I’m willing to forgive lapses like that,” Dylan said, “I don’t believe that this is really his expectations. He is not, I think, actually asking for violence.”

 

10:55 a.m. — Retirees vote Democrat downballot despite Jay Jones controversy and locker room

By Naomi Taxay

BRAMBLETON, Va. — For retired OBGYN Krishna Kudvaralli, 76, democracy was on the ballot. Since January, people have “lost their voices,” he said. He believes voting blue will not only push against the Trump administration but also help the economy by improving the lives of the middle class. 

Kudvaralli voted Democrat downballot despite the Jay Jones text controversy because “Trump got away with a lot more than Jay Jones has said,” and he felt he needed to “save democracy.”

Walking with Kudvaralli, retired government employee Michael Collins, 77, said he hopes the elections in Virginia and New Jersey will send a strong message to both parties to clean up their act and get the government running again. He added that while he doesn’t think “males and females should be in the same locker rooms,” other issues are more important.

 

10:55 a.m. — Jay Jones’s texting controversy not enough to sway McLean voter

By Cassie Sun

MCLEAN, Va — 45-year-old Dustin Pack, a retired U.S. Army officer, voted today for Democrat Jay Jones for attorney general because of his stance against nationwide ICE operations. Pack said he has a mixed voting record and identifies with Republican ideals, but voted Democrat down the ballot today. He hesitated to vote for Jones after the National Review released Jones’s controversial text messages, but the scandal didn’t change his mind.  

“It didn’t change my decision, but it gave me some pause,” Pack said after voting at McLean High School. “There’s too much going on to give the other side any kind of support.” 

He added, “Once you’ve lost that much moral ground, I can’t, in conscious, vote for any of that platform.” 

“Even if I believe in small government and Republican ideas, they can’t have my vote.”

 

10:53 a.m. — ‘There’s clearly only one’: Republican voter says Earle-Sears champions Christian values

By Philip Lam

WOODBRIDGE – Eric Madden, 55, said upholding family values was top of mind when he voted for Republican candidates straight down the ballot. 

Madden said Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears shares many of his Christian values, including the fight against what Madden said is a “homosexual agenda.”

“The Word of God is clear on homosexuality. God loves everybody, but it’s a sin to live openly in sin,” Madden said.

Madden said the actions of Jay Jones, who was caught in a controversy surrounding texts about violent ideations, have further “cemented” his views on the Democratic candidate.

“If you can’t live for family values and Christian values, it’s gonna come out somewhere. His secret just came up public,” he said.

 

10:47 a.m. — First-time Virginia local voter cites economy as top concern

By Isaiah Steinberg

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Tuesday marked Million Desta’s first time voting in a statewide election. Previously, the 41-year-old Woodbridge resident had only voted in presidential elections, but he said this election was “very important.”

“At this moment, the government is shut down — it’s affecting everybody, so we need to go out and vote,” Desta said.

Desta declined to share who he voted for, but said the economy was a motivating factor for him and many Virginians.

“The economy — we are struggling,” Desta said. “Everything is expensive, and at the same time, (there are) a lot of issues we’ve never experienced before. That’s why I decided to come and vote today.”

 

10:44 a.m. — Federal politics at the forefront for some McLean voters

By Sophie Baker and Misha Manjuran Oberoi

MCLEAN, Va. — Jane Wickham Lopez, 79, said she voted for Democrats down the ballot to push back against the Trump administration’s views on women’s rights, its treatment of federal workers and to support the rights of the press.

“I believe we have to defeat the Republicans on this whole issue, everything in the country,” Wickham Lopez said. “I’m just really worried. This has only been, what, 10 months? I think 3 more years of this crap — this is terrible.”

William Allan Royce, 85, also voted for Democrats down the ballot. 

An independent voter, Allan Royce did not like how the Trump administration has executed its immigration policy. 

“I do not like President Trump as a person,” Allan Royce said. 

A dislike for Trump administration policies and support for Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor, pushed both Royce and Wickham Lopez to overlook Jay Jones’ inflammatory texts. 

Wickham Lopez did not believe Jones was capable of sending such violent texts. For Allan Royce, the texts “momentarily” factored in. But he ultimately decided to stick with the Democrats. 

“I kind of wrote it off as a mistake,” Allan Royce said. “I mean, let’s face it — our politics — everybody is talking so vilely about everybody.”

 

10:39 a.m. — Furloughed federal worker registered Republican voted for Spanberger, said woman governor overdue

By Katareena Roska

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Andre Golden, a 59-year-old human resources manager for the Army at Fort Belvoir, has been furloughed since October 1st.  “I can manage because I have savings,” Golden said. “There are a lot of bills that I’m going to have to push through or possibly find another part-time job until the situation is resolved,” he said.  

The Republican said he decided to vote for Spanberger.

“It’s overdue,” Golden said. “There have been women who have been qualified to be in an executive position that overcame — I’m not gonna say misogyny and racism — but the record speaks for itself.”

He believes that Governor Youngkin has done some good things, but he was too close to President Trump.

“And I am a registered Republican, if you put that in there, make sure you get that,” Golden said.

Golden added that he did not vote for the “straight Democrat ticket,” however.

 

10:35 a.m. — Lake Ridge voter says Spanberger will “make Virginia great”

By Isaiah Steinberg

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Frederick Thomas, 58, of Lake Ridge, said Tuesday morning that he believes Democrat Abigail Spanberger will “make Virginia great.”

“The economy and the infringement upon our democratic rights — that’s what drives me to vote today,” Thomas said.

Thomas said he trusts Spanberger’s support for law enforcement, citing her experience as a former CIA officer.

Though Thomas said incumbent Governor Glenn Youngkin “did well,” he is concerned that President Donald Trump is a threat to democracy.

Thomas said Democrat Jay Jones’ texting scandal did not affect his vote.

“Everyone makes mistakes in life, so I don’t look at those,” he said. “I look at the performance of the individual. If he’s fit for office, definitely — everyone has made those mistakes.”

 

10:25 a.m. — Mothers split on Jay Jones at Mt. Vernon Recreation Center in Alexandria

By Aanika Sawhney

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Walking hand in hand with her 17-month-old out of the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center polling station, Allison Brito, 37, has brought her daughter to the polls since she was born. 

She said she is a “dedicated voter, but I’m just really sick of what I see happening across the country, in our state.”

Brito said she supported Abigail Spanberger’s stance on abortion and was disappointed with Winsome Earle-Sears’ messaging around the issue, despite also being a female candidate. She also said her support for Jay Jones did not waver.

“I voted for Jones, though I didn’t love the things that I heard about him coming out recently, about some of the text messages, but it just kind of seems like that is the temperature of politics right now, unfortunately,” Brito said. “So when the other side does that day in and day out, it’s, you know, hard to see that and then clutch your pearls when it’s somebody on your side.”

Sangeetha Sarma, 44, walked out of the same polling station with her son trailing behind, waving their now shared “I voted sticker.”  Like Brito, voted for Spanberger because of her positions on women’s rights. But she could not ignore AG candidate Jay Jones’ recently released violent text messages.

“I disagreed and was deeply concerned with what he did, and so it did impact my vote,” Sarma said.  

She said she voted today to hold elected officials accountable for their words. 

“Especially if their words lead to action,” Sharma said. “I don’t think political violence is okay in any shape or form.”

 

10:22 a.m. —  ‘A really hard decision’: Lake Ridge Republican Stephanie Prettol votes for Spanberger

By Isaiah Steinberg

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Stephanie Prettol, a 72-year-old from Lake Ridge, is a registered Republican who voted for Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday.

Prettol said she viewed Spanberger as a moderate candidate who better aligned with her views than Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears.

“It was a hard decision. It was a really hard decision,” Prettol said. “I like Winsome. I can’t even pronounce her last name. I just haven’t heard much about her. This is the toss of the coin to tell you the truth.”

Prettol did not vote for Democrat Jay Jones, citing his violent text messages released by the National Review.

“It’s awful — and the recordings, the things that he said — he doesn’t deserve to be (attorney general),” Prettol said.