Nearly 200,000 ballots were cast ahead of today’s Democratic primary elections, with enthusiasm at an all-time high to elect Abigail Spanberger for Governor, a Democratic lieutenant governor and attorney general, and expand our majority in the House of Delegates. As Radio IQ reports, this is almost 130,000 more than the previous record, which was 70,000 ballots cast during the early voting period in 2023.

"This record turnout in early Democratic primary voting is evidence Virginians are fired up like never before and ready to elect leaders who will protect Virginia against Trump's dangerous agenda, unlike the Youngkin-Sears administration,” said DPVA Chairman Lamont Bagby. “That energy is what's going to carry us to victory in November, when we will elect leaders who will deliver on our agenda to strengthen and protect our public education system, health care, public safety, environment, and so much more."

Radio IQ/WVTF: Democrats smash primary early voting record, ramp up for final day of in-person voting

By: Brad Kutner

• “Virginia Democrats smashed the primary early voting record going into Tuesday’s primary election.”
• “Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger helped rally voters at her alma mater, J.R. Tucker High School, Monday evening.”
• “‘I love Virginia, I’m proud to call it my home. And that’s why I’m in this race,’ Spanberger told the crowd packed into the atrium of the Henrico County High School. ‘And that’s why I need your help for the next 140 days.’”
• “[...] Spanberger's party will open polls Tuesday with nearly 200,000 early votes already cast, some 70,000 more than the previous record set in 2023.”
• “Henrico-area State Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg was part of the law change that created the permanent absentee voter list which automatically mails voters a ballot for each race. He said it played a large part in the new record.”
• “‘It's a sign the voting reforms Democrats passed in 2020, 21, are working,’ he said. ‘We made it easier to access the ballot.’”
• “He also said messaging around housing affordability and promoting ‘a community where everybody can thrive,’ played a part.”