HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — Early voting for the November election began Friday, and for the first two days, thousands of Virginians took advantage, with estimates putting the early-voter turnout at 35%, ahead of the same time frame in 2020, the last presidential election year.
Republican Hung Cao, running against Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine for one of Virginia’s two Senate seats, is hoping a lot more of those early voters are in his column. According to Real Clear Politics, Kaine leads by nearly 10% across three different polls.
“Trump loves [Cao],” political analyst Joel Rubin said in a Wednesday interview. “So all he has, really, is that endorsement. It’s not like he’s come up through the General Assembly or run for office before. He is a blank slate as far as Virginia politics is concerned.”
Rubin wonders whether the earliest voters might have voted too early, saying there are many things that can happen between now and election day.
“They’re happening in Ukraine, they’re happening in Gaza, they’re happening in the United States — some things are going to happen between now and Nov. 5, which could tilt the stuff and decisions that have to be made,” Rubin said.
Voter apathy is always a concern for candidates, but not so much this year. Once the Democrats changed horses in midstream and Vice President Kamala Harris replaced President Joe Biden, enthusiasm surged.
“I think it definitely energized voters on the Democratic side,” Rubin said, but he acknowledged some of that energy seems to have dissipated, and Harris’ entry into the race could also bring out more Republicans out.
WAVY-TV 10 is partnering with Norfolk State University for the only debate between Kaine and Cao at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, and will carry it live on-air and online.
