Virginia voters cast their ballots at a precinct inside Libbie Mill Library on Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025. (Photo by Marcus Ingram for the Virginia Mercury)
Happy Election Day, Virginia. Citizens are heading to the polls and will elect the state’s first woman governor today, along with a new lieutenant governor, attorney general and all 100 House of Delegates members.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and you can find out everything you need to know about the candidates and stakes of the races in our Election 2025 hub and Voter Guide.
Check back here for live updates throughout the day from The Mercury’s reporters covering all the action across the state.
Key Events
Nov. 4, 2025 8:34 pm
Hashmi wins Virginia lieutenant governor contest
Nov. 4, 2025 8:04 pm
Abigail Spanberger wins the Virginia governor’s race
Nov. 4, 2025 7:44 pm
Supporters cheer on Spanberger while they await election results
Nov. 4, 2025 7:10 pm
The Mercury’s Markus Schmidt joins WWBT’s election night panel at 8 p.m.
Nov. 4, 2025 5:49 pm
PHOTOS: Voters mark their ballots at Mechanicsville Branch Library in Hanover
Nov. 4, 2025 5:42 pm
PHOTOS: Lines of voters at Libbie Mill Library in Henrico
Nov. 4, 2025 5:37 pm
PHOTOS: Voters make their choices at Diversity Thrift in Richmond
Nov. 4, 2025 5:23 pm
Doors soon to open at Spanberger’s watch party
Nov. 4, 2025 4:35 pm
Earle-Sears’ campaign gears up for watch party in Leesburg
Nov. 4, 2025 3:37 pm
In Chesapeake, Black voters tie importance of ballot casting to historic struggle for voting rights
Nov. 4, 2025 2:42 pm
Loudoun County voters show up in large numbers midday
Nov. 4, 2025 1:32 pm
A blue spot in red Hanover
Nov. 4, 2025 1:21 pm
Prince William voters to choose a new supervisor
Nov. 4, 2025 12:59 pm
Dispatches from Virginia Beach
Nov. 4, 2025 11:26 am
Voters in Fairfax mark their ballots
Nov. 4, 2025 11:20 am
In morning update, Virginia elections chief urges citizens to ‘vote with confidence’
Nov. 4, 2025 9:55 am
Prep underway at the state Capitol for Her Excelleny’s inauguration
Nov. 4, 2025 9:25 am
Slow but steady stream of voters in North Chesterfield Tuesday morning
Nov. 4, 2025 9:21 am
Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Ghazala Hashmi casts her ballot
Nov. 4, 2025 9:14 am
Richmond’s Main Street Station
Hashmi wins Virginia lieutenant governor contest
(Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce for the Virginia Mercury)
Democrat Ghazala Hashmi won the Virginia lieutenant governor race with 53.4% compared to Republican John Reid’s 46.4%, the Associated Press reported.
Details coverage of all three statewide races will be published soon.
Abigail Spanberger wins the Virginia governor’s race
Virginia democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger walks onto the stage at Chartway Arena in Norfolk on Nov. 1, 2025 for a campaign rally featuring former U.S. President Barack Obama. Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods / Virginia Mercury
The Associated Press has called the Virginia governor’s race in Democrat Abigail Spanberger’s favor, as of 8:00 p.m.
More updates from Spanberger’s victory party coming soon.
Supporters cheer on Spanberger while they await election results
A crowd cheers for Virginia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger at her election night watch party in Richmond on Nov. 4, 2025.
(Photo by Charlotte Renee Woods/Virginia Mercury)
(Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)
Last updated: 7:51 pm
The Mercury’s Markus Schmidt joins WWBT’s election night panel at 8 p.m.
The Virginia Mercury’s own Markus Schmidt — senior politics reporter, deputy editor and all-around precinct-return whisperer — will trade his notebook for a studio mic Tuesday evening as he joins WWBT’s election-night panel, offering live analysis as results roll in across the commonwealth.
Also on the panel are Rachel DePompa, 12 On Your Side’s award-winning evening anchor and director of investigations; Jasmine Turner, evening anchor and trusted voice of Richmond’s nightly news; and Ernest McGowen, political scientist at the University of Richmond whose students will no doubt be grading his takes in real time.
The quad-cast of news brains will be breaking down turnout trends, surprise flips, what the early precincts really mean — and yes, whether anyone can predict a concession speech before the coffee wears off.
The coverage airs live from 8–10 p.m. on WWBT 12 On Your Side and streams here.
Markus is pictured here with other panelists during the TV news station’s live discussion on the 2024 presidential election.
(Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)
Last updated: 7:11 pm
PHOTOS: Voters mark their ballots at Mechanicsville Branch Library in Hanover
PHOTOS: Lines of voters at Libbie Mill Library in Henrico
PHOTOS: Voters make their choices at Diversity Thrift in Richmond
Doors soon to open at Spanberger’s watch party
(Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)
While voters statewide continue to complete their civic duty by casting their ballots until polls close at 7 p.m., preparations are underway for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger’s campaign watch party in the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
Doors open at 6 p.m. for the general public.
Spanberger has run on a platform of addressing affordability issues, particularly in health care and housing, and how the state will navigate the federal funding fallout. She has touted her bipartisan track record while serving three terms in Congress.
Learn more about her policy priorities and those of her opponent, Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, here.
Earle-Sears’ campaign gears up for watch party in Leesburg
(Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)
As votes continue rolling in, preparations are underway for Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears’ campaign watch party at the National Conference Center in Leesburg (Loudoun County). Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Earle-Sears has run on a platform of conservative values and her campaign largely mirrors the themes that brought Gov. Glenn Youngkin victory in 2021 — parents’ rights, fiscal responsibility and defending personal freedoms.
Learn more about her policy priorities and those of her opponent, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, here.
Last updated: 4:36 pm
In Chesapeake, Black voters tie importance of ballot casting to historic struggle for voting rights
Several residents clustered around voting booths at New Life Church in Chesapeake this afternoon. It’s one of the largest precincts in the city.
(Photo by Roger Chelsey/Virginia Mercury)
Latangie Clay cast her ballot at the precinct with her daughters Jade, 18, and Taniah, 21. Jade Clay was voting for the very first time. It’s important, Latangie Clay noted.
“It’s what our ancestors went though … not having that privilege,” said Clay, 51, who’s African American. She’s emphasized to her children the struggle for voting rights in this country.
Loudoun County voters show up in large numbers midday
(Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)
At Stonebridge High School in Loudoun County, the precinct has collected 777 in-person votes, which is considered to be “high” for this time of day compared to last year‘s presidential election, according to precinct officials.
In addition to choosing the state’s next governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, county residents will also participate in five House of Delegates contests for Districts 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30. There are also multiple local races, including for school board seats and mayoral contests in Middleburg and Round Hill.
There are over 303,000 registered voters in the county, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
A blue spot in red Hanover
(Photo by Samantha Willis/Virginia Mercury)
Teddi Fishman, a Democratic poll greeter at a precinct in western Hanover County, said several voters have expressed support for Democratic governor nominee Abigail Spanberger this morning, which “surprised and encouraged” her.
The county is reliably red and has voted for Republican candidates consistently in local, statewide and federal elections. A poll worker there reported 324 people had cast their ballots as of 12:15 p.m. and a steady flow of voters streamed into the precinct in the afternoon.
Fishman, who stood behind a table scattered with leftover Halloween candy, said she’d noticed “lots of mothers coming in with their children to vote” on Election Day.
“It made me feel optimistic, really,” she said.
Last updated: 1:33 pm
Prince William voters to choose a new supervisor
(Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)
At one of the largest precincts in Prince William County, voter turnout at Mountain View Elementary School is expected to reach 50%, which is notable considering that it is around 10 percentage points less than last year’s presidential election, according to precinct officials.
One reason for this is the vacant supervisor seat in the Gainesville District, which has historically been conservative. Bob Weir, the last supervisor to hold the seat, died due to cancer in July. The winner will serve the remainder of the term through 2027.
Ann Wheeler, former chair of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, was out garnering support for the Democratic nominee George Stewart, who is running against Republican nominee Patrick Harders for the vacant supervisor seat.
If a Democrat is selected, Wheeler said it would be a sign that values are changing in the election district.
“I think it would be an indication that the Democrats in Prince William County are really cemented,” Wheeler said. “We’ve grown to a population that reflects democratic values and there are a lot more people in the Gainesville district than there were twenty years ago. All the neighborhoods are new, everything is new.”
Dispatches from Virginia Beach
Ashley Michelic and her 1-year-old son, Camden, wait for a ballot at Corporate Landing Middle School in Virginia Beach. The precinct is one of the largest in the city.
(Photo by Roger Chesley/Virginia Mercury)
Poll worker Howard Rochelle checks in a voter Tuesday at Corporate Landing Middle School in Virginia Beach. More than 365 people voted by 11:15 a.m. at the precinct, one of the largest in Virginia Beach.
(Photo by Roger Chesley/Virginia Mercury)
Last updated: 1:14 pm
Voters in Fairfax mark their ballots
At the largest precinct in Fairfax County, roughly 500 voters have already cast their ballots at Coates Elementary School. Officials expect to see a total of 6,800 voters today.
(Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)
(Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)
In morning update, Virginia elections chief urges citizens to ‘vote with confidence’
Virginia Elections Commissioner Susan Beals on Election Day, Nov. 4, 2025. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)
Virginia Elections Commissioner Susan Beals told reporters Tuesday morning that the state’s election apparatus was running smoothly as voters headed to the polls, emphasizing that “we want every eligible Virginian to vote.”
“We ensure this with our experienced election officials. Virginia is unique, and we administer major elections every year,” she said, noting the state has “processes that are based on state and federal law” to ensure eligible voters can cast a ballot.
“We want everyone to vote with confidence, and ask that you be sure to thank an election official when you go to vote today. As of today, we have 6.3 million registered voters in Virginia.”
Beals said local officers “know the types of issues voters can face on Election Day and are very familiar with how to help them,” adding that the department relies on “tested processes” at precincts statewide. She also pointed members of the press to state guidance on media conduct inside polling places, which allows brief, non-disruptive filming or photography.
The commissioner outlined one significant issue reported so far: an emergency polling place change in Newport News after a vehicle crash rendered the Ivy Farms Community of Faith Church (Precinct 316) unusable.“They made an emergency polling place change over the weekend to the South Morrison Family Education Center,” Beals said.
She added that the registrar posted signage at the original site, pushed information through local media, and stationed a deputy sheriff with emergency lights to redirect voters. The city posted an alert Monday notifying residents of the temporary move.
On provisional ballots, Beals said she didn’t yet have numbers for how many had been issued.
“I can tell you that the probably most common reason will be seeing the registration that is being done in the early voting period,” she said — a reference to Virginia’s same-day registration process, which typically routes such voters to provisional ballots for later eligibility review by local boards.
State guidance explains how provisional ballots preserve a voter’s rights while officials verify eligibility, including ID-related situations.
Asked about confidence in mail delivery, Beals said the department “worked very closely with the Postal Service this year,” describing USPS as “fantastic partners” who responded quickly to issues flagged by the state.
“We met with them on a weekly basis, sometimes communicating with them on a daily basis,” she said. Still, “if, for any reason, you are not sure that your ballot has made it back, you can show up and try to vote a regular ballot at your polling place today, or contact your registrar’s office” to confirm receipt. USPS describes “election mail” to include ballots and related materials, with voters advised to follow local return instructions.
Beals also offered practical guidance on turnout patterns.
“Typically, the busiest times at precincts is in-person voting in the morning, when people are on their way to work, and then in the afternoon, in the 5 to 7 p.m. time frame, when people are coming home from work.”
Polls in Virginia are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Beals is scheduled to provide another statewide update at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Last updated: 11:21 am
Prep underway at the state Capitol for Her Excelleny’s inauguration
Even as Virginians are still heading to the polls today, crews at the Capitol are already laying the groundwork for the next governor’s inauguration — a reminder that the transition of power is always in motion, no matter the outcome.
Today, Virginians will elect the first woman governor in its history — either Democrat Abigail Spanberger or Republican Winsome Earle-Sears. Learn more about both candidates and their plans for the state here.
(Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)
(Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)
Slow but steady stream of voters in North Chesterfield Tuesday morning
Voters trickled into the Stonebridge Recreation Center in North Chesterfield on Tuesday morning, where turnout was described as “steady but far from overwhelming” in the early hours of Election Day.
The precinct’s chief officer, who declined to give his name, said activity picked up briefly after the polls opened at 6 a.m. but never reached the kind of sustained lines seen in higher-turnout cycles.
“It’s been moderate, no lines,” he said, standing near a table where poll workers checked in a slow but continuous flow of voters. “Peak time was between 8 and 9 a.m. By then it was 65 votes cast.”
(Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)
Last updated: 9:26 am
Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Ghazala Hashmi casts her ballot
(Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury)
State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, votes at the polling place inside Jahnke Road Baptist Church in Richmond.
“It feels like such a great and momentous day,” Hashmi said. “You know, we’ve been on the campaign trail for over 19 months now, and to bring it to a close feels really good. ”
Hashmi said after talking with “so many voters” in all part of Virginia, the resonating theme she’s heard is that “they are really ready for strong leadership.”
“They’re ready for people who are going to tackle the critical issues that are facing our commonwealth, and we’re ready to get the job done.”
Richmond’s Main Street Station
Voters enter Richmond’s Main Street Station to cast their ballots on Tuesday morning.
(Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury)
Last updated: 9:16 am
