RICHMOND, Va. — Democrat Ralph Northam wins Virginia’s hard-fought race for governor.
Early unofficial results show Northam defeated Republican Ed Gillespie on Tuesday.
Virginia’s hard-fought race was closely watched as a swing-state test of President Donald Trump’s popularity. Northam, a pediatric neurologist and the state’s lieutenant governor, repeatedly tried to tie Gillespie to the president during months of divisive campaigning overshadowed by racial overtones and attack ads.
Northam’s victory was in large part due to a surge in anti-Trump energy since the president took office. Democrats said they had record levels of enthusiasm heading into the race.
Gillespie kept Trump at a distance throughout the campaign but tried to rally the president’s supporters with hard-edge ads focused on illegal immigration and preserving Confederate statues.
Northam said in his victory speech that the eyes of the nation were on Virginia on Election Tuesday.
“Virginia has told us to end the divisiveness, that we do not condone hatred and bigotry,” he added. “In Virginia, it is going to take a doctor to heal our differences. I’m here to let you know the doctor is in. And this doctor will be on call the next four years.”
Northam also praised the state’s growing diversity and said he would work to make the state more inclusive. “Our lights will be on, our doors will be open,” he said.
