DemDaily: Sweet Virginia
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe is term-limited
VIRGINIA
Virginia Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe won his first term in 2013 with 47.8% of the vote. A popular and effective politician, he has a current approval rating of 50%+, and over 80% among Democrats -- but is limited to one term. Virginia is the only state that prohibits its Governor from serving consecutive terms.
Ralph Northam, Lieutenant Governor
Tom Perriello, former Congressman (VA-05)
Ralph Northam, 57, previously served in the Virginia State Senate and has served as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia since being elected in November of 2013 with 55% of the vote.
Northam, who announced his bid November 17, 
2015, has emerged as the establishment candidate, with the early endorsement of McAuliffe, Virginia's two US Senators, Mark Warner and former VP nominee Tim Kaine, every member of the Virginia Democratic House and Senate Caucuses and most major Dem lawmaker in Virginia.
Three of the four Democratic Congressmen, Bobby Scott (3rd CD), Donald McEachin (4th CD) and Don Beyer (8th) support Northam. Only Gerald Connolly (11th CD), is remaining neutral.
Enter former Congressman Tom Perriello, the insurgent primary challenger who jumped into the primary last December, a year after Northam.
Ralph Northam and Tom Perriello are competing in June 13th Democratic Primary
A diplomatic envoy to parts of Africa under Obama, Perriello also has the public support of more than 30 former Obama staffers.
A Washington Post-Schar School Poll (May 9-14) show Perriello and Northam at an essential dead heat @ 40%-38%.
Ed Gillespie, former Republican National Committee chairman (2003-2005) and 2014 US Senate nominee
Corey Stewart, former Trump Virginia Campaign Chair, Chair of Prince William County Board of Supervisors and Candidate for Lt Governor in 2013
Frank Wagner - State Senator
On the Republican side, former RNC Chair Ed Gillespie is leading the nomination race against former Trump State Chairman Corey Stewart and State Senator Frank W. Wagner (Virginia Beach).
Gillespie, who once served as Virginia's GOP Chair, ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate in 2014 against John Warner (D), narrowly losing by less than 1%.
Although a swing state, Democrats have won every statewide election since 2009 and Hillary Clinton carried the state by more than 5% in the the 2016 Presidential.The WashPo-Schar poll shows both Northam and Perriello beating Gillespie by double digits in the general, and Trump's approval rating among Virginia voters is at just 37%.
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