Gabriella Borter and Joseph Ax

(Reuters) – Virginia’s next governor will be elected Tuesday by their voters in a surprisingly tight race. This unexpected outcome has national consequences for Republicans and Democrats as they prepare to face next year’s congressional elections.

In the last few weeks, Democrat Terry McAuliffe (a party staple who was governor between 2014 and 2018) has lost ground to Republican Glenn Youngkin in opinion surveys.

For national Democrats, a McAuliffe defeat in Virginia would be alarming, as President Joe Biden beat former President Donald Trump by nearly ten points last year.

The gubernatorial race has been dominated by cultural issues. Youngkin promised to allow parents greater control over the way public schools deal with race, gender, COVID-19 protocols and McAuliffe vowed to defend voting rights and access to abortion.

According to polls, Youngkin was able to close the gap to McAuliffe’s by appealing to independent voters. This group was less alienated by Trump’s fierbrand politics in 2020 but more attracted to Youngkin’s friendly manner.

The strategy of his friend could be used by Republicans to return suburban moderates for the 2022 elections. In these elections control of Congress as well as the fate of Biden’s agenda, will be up for grabs. This would not alienate the Trump-supporting hard-liners.

The Democratic Governor Ralph Northam is out of office. Virginia’s term limit law prohibits him from being elected twice consecutively.

This race is just one of many issues and contests before U.S. citizens on Tuesday, as they deal with rising prices, the COVID-19 pandemic and racial inequalities.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is a Democrat and is expected to be elected against Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

There will be mayors in dozens of cities across the United States, such as Atlanta, Minneapolis and Boston. Unless Republican Curtis Sliwa (who runs the civil street patrol Guardian Angels), can win a stunning upset, Eric Adams, a former police officer captain, will be New York’s second Black mayor.

Minneapolis voters will determine whether to approve a bill that would create a new agency for public safety and replace the existing police department a year ago.

TRUMP’S SHADE

Virginia’s governoral race is always held one year following the quadrennial U.S. presidental election. It has been long considered a critical barometer of President Obama’s national standing, and a precursor to the next year’s midterm elections.

According to the most recent Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted on Wednesday and Thursday, Biden’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest point during his presidency.

Youngkin (54), a former executive in private equity, is focusing on social hot buttons such as the teaching of race in schools and COVID-19 mandates for vaccines and masks.

His campaign was to advocate parents having more control over their children’s education. He capitalized on the anger of conservatives who feel schools are trying to impose divisive curricula for the sake of diversity.

Youngkin, speaking in Richmond Monday, promised that he would bring about a Virginia in which the government no longer tells us what we should do.

McAuliffe (64), has tried to tie Youngkin and Trump at all turns, attacking Trump for not initially being able to state whether Biden was legitimately elected.

Youngkin acknowledges Biden’s victory but calls for an audit to Virginia’s voting machine. Democrats accuse Youngkin, however, of validating Trump’s conspiracy theories about the election.

Trump reiterated his support of Youngkin Monday in a statement, saying that he has my full and complete endorsement for Youngkin for months!

McAuliffe replied to Trump’s Twitter statement (NYSE:)

McAuliffe stated that Trump is pulling all the stops in order to win because Glenn will help him achieve his MAGA agenda here, VA.

“Tomorrow VA will choose an even better way.”

However, without Trump as the leader of the vote it’s not clear if Democrats will have the same effect from invoking his name.

Youngkin has kept a low profile on Trump and avoided any discussion while campaigning on education issues that would appeal to both moderates as well as Trump supporters.

Trump did not visit the state for campaign purposes, but he participated in a pro Youngkin tele-rally Monday. Youngkin told voters that Youngkin would defend suburbs. His past warnings regarding fraud could have been ignored in his short call.

McAuliffe was with Biden, as well former President Barack Obama.