(Washington Insider Magazine) -This Friday, First Lady Jill Biden will visit Henrico, Virginia, near Richmand, to stump for Terry McAuliffe (D-VA). In less than one month, the citizens of Virginia will choose their next governor. At the moment, McAuliffe, the current governor, and Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin are locked in an incredibly tight race, with a recent poll conducted by Emerson College and Nexstar Media Group having McAuliffe at 49 percent and Youngkin at 48 percent.
In addition to the voters committed to McAuliffe and Youngkin, one percent of those surveyed said they intended to vote for someone else. Two percent reported that they were still undecided at the time. However, they do not have much time to make up their minds. Early voting began last month and the deadline for voting is November 2.
Until recently, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report classified the race as “leans Democratic.” However, as the race has tightened over the past few weeks, they’ve moved it into the “toss-up” column.
Political commentators across the country have their eyes on the Virginia gubernatorial race, since it is one of the first time that American voters will cast their ballots since President Biden’s election. Because of this, operatives on both sides of the aisle believe it could serve as an omen for next year’s midterm election.
Currently, Biden’s approval numbers are at their lowest point since his inauguration, reaching the low 40s in several nationwide polls. These low numbers have many Democrats concerned about their chances of holding on to the House of Representatives.
Several other big names within the Democratic Party are on the campaign trail in Virginia, stumping for McAuliffe. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and President Biden have both made stops on McAuliffe’s behalf in recent months. During her visit, Klobuchar tweeted, “Happy to be back in Virginia to support my friend (former and future Governor) @TerryMcAuliffe! Fewer than 40 days until Election Day. From creating clean energy jobs to preventing gun violence to protecting women’s health decisions, Terry is the right choice for Virginia!”
Meanwhile, Republicans are hoping that McAuliffe’s defeat in Virginia will herald the beginning of a red wave that will sweep the nation next fall. Both sides of the aisle are hoping that the Virginia gubernatorial race will signal that political winds are blowing in their direction. In less than a month, both sides will discover which way those winds are blowing.
