More than 1.4 million Virginians voted early ahead of the governor’s race, setting a record and showing strong voter enthusiasm.

Henrico’s registrar is also reporting higher-than-normal turnout. Mark Coakley said voters are excited and waiting in line because they want to be there. He reported an enthusiastic crowd with about 12-15% turnout by 10 a.m. The new Manchester voting site in Chesterfield saw enthusiastic voters throughout the day.

Polls have closed in Virginia, where voters were deciding whether to keep the governor’s mansion in Republican hands by electing Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears or flipping it to Democratic control under former U.

With high stakes in New Jersey, Virginia, and NYC, Tuesday's races could signal the direction of US politics in the Trump era. Voters in New Jersey and Virginia will choose their next governors on Tuesday in a pair of races that will serve as an early gauge of the American electorate's response to President Donald Trump's norm-shattering nine months in office.