Democratic candidates all held a lead over their Republican rivals in the latest poll of three Virginia statewide races as early voting began on Friday.

Spokespersons for former Representative Abigail Spanberger, who is running for governor, and state Senator Ghazala Hashmi, who is running for lieutenant governor, expressed optimism about their chances in November in statements to Newsweek.

Why It Matters

Virginia's off-year elections for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general are viewed as a critical bellwether for how the country is feeling ahead of the midterms, when every member of the House of Representatives, a third of U.S. senators and dozens of governors across the country are up for reelection.

Typically, the party in the White House has struggled in these el

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