RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The latest on Election Day in Virginia as Democrats try to gain control of the Senate and Republicans battle to retain their slim edge while retaining their majority in the House of Delegates. (All times local)
5:30 p.m.
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A nonprofit's analysis of political advertising shows that Virginia candidates and outside groups spent more than $10 million running more than 20,000 TV ads this election season.
Michael Bloomberg's gun control group led all spenders with $2.1 million in estimated spending trying to help Democrats in two key Senate seats, based on an analysis by The Center for Public Integrity.
In one of those key seats, GOP nominee Glen Sturtevant outspent his opponent Democratic Dan Gecker $915,000 to $770,000, based on the estimated figures. In the other, Democrat Jeremy McPike outspent GOP candidate Hal Parrish $888,000 to $437,000.
The Center for Public Integrity's analysis used data from Kantar Media/CMAG, a media tracking firm that offers a widely accepted estimate of the money spent to air each spot.
4:55 p.m.
Election officials in Senate District 29's Library Precinct in Woodbridge reported steady turnout Tuesday afternoon for an off-year election.
The marquee race is the state Senate race to replace retiring Democrat Charles Colgan. Democrats are hoping that Jeremy McPike can fend off Republican Hal Parrish as Democrats seek to wrest control of the Senate from the GOP.
Woodbridge resident Edwin Williams-Greer and his husband, Mark Williams-Greer, voted for McPike.
Mark Williams Greer said he and his husband are two black, married men and what they heard from the Republican side was not good at all.
His husband said gun control was an issue for him. He said he is a gun owner but believes it's necessary to have sensible gun laws on the books.
Woodbridge resident Frances Sarno voted for Parrish. She said she came out primarily to vote for Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart, but was also persuaded to vote for Parrish.
She said it could have been the ads that persuaded her. The contest featured heavy spending on both sides.
1:30 p.m.
Republican Glen Sturtevant is doing some last-minute campaigning in a heavily Democratic area of the state Senate district he hopes to represent.
Sturtevant was shaking hands with a steady stream of voters outside a polling place in the Museum District on Tuesday.
But he didn't seem to sway many voters in the precinct that's among the more liberal in District 10.
Brendan Workman, a mortgage consultant, said Sturtevant seems more genuine than his opponent, Democrat Dan Gecker. But the 38-year-old said he voted for Gecker anyway because his views are more closely aligned with the Democrat's.
Ruth Winkle, a retired teacher, said she supported Gecker because he's not backed by the National Rifle Association.
Gun control has become a key issue in the race, with both the NRA and a gun-control group backed by Michael Bloomberg spending heavily on advertisements.
12:40 p.m.
The Democratic Party of Virginia released a memo to the news media Tuesday morning that appears aimed at tempering expectations about Election Day results.
The memo said the 2015 election "has always been an uphill battle for Democrats" and said it's a "huge gain" for the party just to be competitive.
Democrats said the off-year election, political gerrymandering, and "fatigue" related to the Obama presidency have made this election favorable to Republicans.
Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe has made taking control of the Senate a top priority and has spent heavily in trying to improve his party's field operations in key districts. His efforts have been bolstered by heavy donations and spending by Democratic megadonors and groups like billionaire Michael Bloomberg's gun-control group.
12:30 p.m.
Voters in Chesterfield County cast ballots Tuesday in a heated state Senate race that could decide partisan control of the upper chamber.
Ron Davis, a retiree, cast his ballot at Clover Hill Elementary School for Democrat Dan Gecker. Davis said Gecker's Republican opponent, Glen Sturtevant, lacks the necessary experience to be a state senator.
But Thomas A. Shearer said he was supporting Sturtevant in part because of the large financial assistance Gecker had received from billionaire Michael Bloomberg's gun-control group. Shearer, also a retiree, said no candidate should be so heavily financed by out-of-state interests.
Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe has made taking control of the Senate a top priority, but Republicans are confident they've successfully contained the governor's efforts.
Republicans control the House of Delegates by an overwhelming majority.
10:30 a.m.
A steady stream of voters filed into Janke Road Baptist Church in Richmond on Tuesday morning to vote in one of the key state Senate races.
Morton Mumma of Richmond voted with his wife shortly after 9 a.m. He said the contest between Republican Glen Sturtevant and Democrat Dan Gecker had gotten a lot of people's attention. The two men are facing off in Senate District 10, with control of the state Senate in the balance.
Precinct official Chante Henderson said more than 230 voters had cast ballots shortly before 10 a.m.. The precinct has about 2,500 registered voters.
Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe has made taking control of the Senate a top priority and has spent heavily in trying to improve his party's field operations in key districts. But Republicans are confident they've successfully matched those efforts.
Republicans control the House of Delegates by an overwhelming majority.
2 a.m.
The polls are open across Virginia from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe has made taking control of the state Senate a top priority and has spent heavily in trying to improve his party's field operations in key districts. He's been helped by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose gun control group said it was spending $2.2 million in contests in Richmond and northern Virginia.
But Republicans are confident they've successfully matched those efforts. They also hope to strengthen their grip on the House.
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