As voters are heading to the polls on this wet, rainy Tuesday morning, many are reporting very high turnout rates throughout the Commonwealth and the country in what is seen as one of the most consequential midterm elections in a generation. In Virginia, all but one of the 11 congressional districts are contested, as well as a U.S. Senate race, a special election in the 8th House of Delegates District, and a slew of other local races.
Polls opened up at 6:00 a.m. this morning and will close at 7:00 p.m. Those who are standing in line at a polling area at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote. One can find their polling place at the Virginia Department of Elections website.
U.S. Senate:
Incumbent Democrat Tim Kaine is seeking a second term after claiming national attention as Hillary Clinton’s running mate in 2016. He is running against Republican Corey Stewart, the at-large chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. Libertarian candidate Matt Waters is also on the ballot.
Congress:
1st District: Holding his seat since 2007, Republican Congressman Rob Wittman is being challenged by Democrat and first time candidate Vangie Williams.
2nd District: Former Navy SEAL, decorated Iraq combat veteran, and freshman Republican Congressman Scott Taylor is defending his seat from Democratic candidate and former Navy commander Elaine Luria in a race that has attracted the statewide spotlight.
3rd District: Democratic Congressman Bobby Scott is running unopposed.
4th District: Incumbent Democratic Congressman Donald McEachin is being challenged by Williamsburg pastor and Republican candidate Ryan McAdams and Navy veteran Libertarian candidate Pete Wells
5th District: Following Congressman Tom Garrett deciding to retire in 2019, this race features Republican Denver Riggleman, a former military intelligence officer who owns Silverback Distillery in Nelson County and ran for governor in 2017, against former investigative journalist and Democratic candidate Leslie Cockburn.
6th District: Incumbent Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte has decided to retire after 10 terms in Washington. Voters will decide between Republican Ben Cline, an area member of the Virginia House of Delegates, and healthcare worker Jennifer Lewis.
7th District: Republican Dave Brat, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, is being challenged by Democratic candidate and former CIA agent Abigail Spanberger, and Libertarian candidate Joe Walton.
8th District: Democratic Congressman Don Beyer will be defending his seat from Republican Thomas Oh.
9th District: Republican Congressman Morgan Griffith, who won his seat in 2010, is being challenged by Democrat Anthony Flaccavento.
10th District: In a race that has garnered national attention, Republican Congresswoman Barbara Comstock is fighting to hold off Democratic candidate and current state senator Jennifer Wexton.
11th District: Although Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly ran unopposed in 2016, he is being challenged by political newcomer and Iraq combat veteran Republican Jeff Dove and Libertarian Stevan Porter.
House of Delegates:
8th District: Following the retirement of Delegate Greg Habeeb, the race to fill his seat is between Republican Joe McNamara, a longtime Roanoke County Board of Supervisors member, and Democrat Carter Turner, a former professor and administrator at Radford University.
Constitutional Amendments:
Ballot Question 1:
Article X. Taxation and Finance. Section 6. Exempt property
“Should a county, city, or town be authorized to provide a partial tax exemption for real property that is subject to recurrent flooding, if flooding resiliency improvements have been made on the property?”
A “yes” vote will authorize the General Assembly to allow localities to provide a partial tax exemption for real property that is subject to recurrent flooding, if improvements have been made on the property to address flooding.
A “no” vote will not allow such a tax exemption.
Ballot Question 2:
Article X. Taxation and Finance. Section 6-A. Property tax exemption for certain veterans and their surviving spouses and surviving spouses of soldiers killed in action.
“Shall the real property tax exemption for a primary residence that is currently provided to the surviving spouses of veterans who had a one hundred percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability be amended to allow the surviving spouse to move to a different primary residence and still claim the exemption?”
A “yes” vote will allow these surviving spouses to move to a new principal place of residence that is owned by the surviving spouse and still claim the tax exemption.
A “no” vote will not allow such surviving spouses to move and still claim the tax exemption.
Local races for school board, board of superiors, among others are occurring in Prince William County, Manassas, Manassas Park, Leesburg, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, and Richmond.