Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin are set for a final day of campaigning at a frenetic pace ahead of Tuesday’s finale in the competitive and closely watched race for governor.
Both candidates are expected to crisscross the commonwealth Monday, each with stops in Roanoke, Virginia Beach, the Richmond area and northern Virginia.
The last-minute push comes after a busy weekend that saw Youngkin tour southwest Virginia and McAuliffe make stops in suburban Richmond and northern Virginia, each trying to fire up his party’s base to drive up turnout for an election that will be scrutinized as a bellwether ahead of next year’s midterms.
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McAuliffe, who served as governor from 2014 to 2018, and Democrats are scrambling to stave off disaster after public polling has shifted in Youngkin’s direction in recent weeks. Republicans are optimistic about their chances in the commonwealth, where they haven’t won a statewide race since 2009.
In southwest Virginia, where Youngkin spent Sunday, the rate of early voting was well below the state as a whole, according to a VPAP analysis.
Strong turnout there on Election Day could help boost Youngkin as he looks to overcome the structural advantage of northern Virginia’s blue tilt.
On Tuesday, polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.