The polls close today at 7pm.
It’s primary Election Day in Virginia.
Voters across the state head to the polls today to nominate Democratic and Republican candidates for this fall’s midterm elections.
Republicans will nominate their candidate to take on incumbent Democratic US Sen. Mark Warner, who’s been a US senator since 2009.
Both parties are nominating candidates in different congressional districts. There are currently five Republicans and six Democrats who represent Virginia in the US House of Representatives.
Of these congressional races, analysts expect the elections in the 2nd Congressional District and the 1st Congressional District—both represented by Republicans—to be the most competitive. But challengers have lined up to take on incumbents in safer districts, too.
In the 8th Congressional District in Northern Virginia four candidates are challenging Democratic incumbent US Rep. Don Beyer, who’s served in the US House since 2015.
Bob Crowe, 74, spent part of his morning planting signs for Michael Duffin, a laid off federal employee and one of Beyer’s challengers.
Crowe, a retired civil servant, said in an interview with Dogwood outside a polling location in Falls Church that he felt Democrats like Beyer haven’t done enough in support of federal workers who lost their jobs as part of the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal workforce.
Last month, Beyer rallied with fired federal workers near the US Capitol and has helped introduce legislation in support of them.
Crowe also liked the idea of sending a message to the Democratic party that “people are anxious for change.”
Debbie Yoo, 29, cast a ballot for Mo Seifeldein, a former federal attorney and another Beyer challenger, for similar reasons. Yoo said in an interview she felt “neutral” about Beyer and hoped her vote sent a message that voters like her want to support progressive candidates they are excited about.
One Beyer supporter who declined to share her name told Dogwood that the member of Congress had “done a great job.”
Polls close today at 7 p.m.
Election observers
Fairfax County authorized nine people from the US Department of Justice to observe today’s electoral process.
While it’s not uncommon for elections observers to watch the electoral process, President Donald Trump’s false claims about America’s elections have raised concerns from Democrats.
The chief election officer overseeing voting at the Minnie H. Peyton Community Center in the Bailey’s Crossroads area of Falls Church said in an interview with Dogwood that three staff members from the US Senate Committee on Rules and Administration observed voting taking place there.
The election officer said they observed for about 30 minutes before leaving without any issues.
