Virginia GOP to Choose Governor Nominee05/08 07:29

   Tens of thousands of Virginians are casting ballots to choose nominees for 
governor and other statewide offices.

   ANNANDALE, Va. (AP) -- Tens of thousands of Virginians are casting ballots 
to choose nominees for governor and other statewide offices.

   The Republican Party is holding what it's calling an "unassembled 
convention" on Saturday to select its nominees in this year's race for 
governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.

   Republicans haven't won a statewide race in Virginia since 2009.

   Because pandemic restrictions ban mass gatherings, delegates are casting 
ballots at nearly 40 polling sites across the state.

   More than 53,000 Virginians successfully pre-registered as delegates. GOP 
officials rejected applications from roughly 700 would-be delegates. Virginia 
is the only state with an open-seat gubernatorial race this year.

   Four candidates -- Amanda Chase, Kirk Cox, Pete Snyder and Glenn Youngkin -- 
all have a shot at winning the nomination in a race that where no clear 
favorite has been established.

   Polling closes at 4 p.m. Saturday, but the party won't even begin counting 
ballots until Sunday.

   It may take several days to finish the count, which is complicated by 
ranked-choice voting and proportional representation that is awarded to each 
city and county.

   Democrats will choose their gubernatorial nominee in a primary next month. 
Former governor Terry McAuliffe is the frontrunner in a field of five Democrats.

   Incumbent Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam is barred from seeking reelection 
under Virginia's term limit rules.