Virginia
Abortion, Donald Trump and COVID-19: Virginia governor's race emerges as a bellwether
![Portrait of Mabinty Quarshie](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/-mm-/3d876304d3f25499c00e15f20cb06fe4f79ea15f/c=0-51-599-650/local/-/media/2018/11/03/USATODAY/USATODAY/636768497043942909-mquarshie.png?width=48&height=48&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
USA TODAY
- Virginia's gubernatorial race is seen as a harbinger for the 2022 midterms.
- Democrat Terry McAuliffe has blasted Republican Glenn Youngkin over his abortion stance.
- Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Youngkin for governor.
When Virginia voters pick the commonwealth's next governor on Nov. 2, they'll be choosing between a Donald Trump-aligned Republican who has criticized President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan and a longtime moderate Democrat who supports a bigger safety net and higher pay for teachers.
For Democrats, any early indication of voter sentiment is a crucial gauge, looking ahead to the midterm elections in 2022.