Election Day

Voters are headed to the polls in New Jersey and Virginia today. Both states are known for their "off-year" elections for governor and the state legislature. The results often carry national significance because they are seen as an early measurement of the national mood and a referendum on the party controlling the White House heading into the midterm elections the following year. 

Both New Jersey and Virginia are considered Blue states, so Democrat victories would be the most likely outcome. But the Virginia contest in particular has become very competitive in the past few weeks, with some polls showing Republican Glenn Youngkin in the lead. 

The momentum certainly seems to be in Youngkin's favor. His closing campaign events yesterday were heavily attended, while Democrat Terry McAuliffe canceled an event.

If Youngkin wins by a substantial margin, it could set off an earthquake on the political left. He has run hard on local control of education and made critical race theory a major focus of the campaign. (See below.) 

But even if he falls short, a close loss will cause a tremor on the left because Terry McAuliffe, a former governor who is widely viewed as the de facto incumbent, just wasn't supposed to have a close race at all in a state that Joe Biden won by 10 points. 

While Youngkin may have momentum, there are disturbing signs that the left may be up to its well-established tricks of vote manipulation and fraud. 

It's imperative that every Virginian votes today. If you haven't voted yet, you still have time. Polls close at 7:00 PM.

In addition, we're watching a number of local races around the country, including several ballot initiatives related to funding for law enforcement. We will provide a thorough update on the results tomorrow.