Gov. Youngkin aims for a GOP sweep in Virginia’s legislative elections. Democrats have other ideas

By SARAH RANKIN
Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Voters are set to make a critical decision in next week’s Virginia legislative elections. They’ll decide on Tuesday whether to give the GOP full state government control for the first time in a decade or empower Democratic legislators to keep serving as a check on Republican Gov. Youngkin’s agenda. The outcome may hinge on what voters think of Youngkin’s proposed new limits on abortion access. During this year’s campaign, Democrats have largely focused on blocking such restrictions. Republicans have campaigned on education, crime and the economy. The results in Virginia will be closely watched around the country as a possible bellwether for 2024.