Democrats became the dominant political force in Virginia over the past decade, but their grip was weakened in Tuesday's gubernatorial election.

Former President Barack Obama has offered a sharp rebuke of the Republican candidate for Virginia governor while campaigning for the Democrat in the closely contested race.

About a month and a half out from the finale of the Virginia governor's race, optimism among Democrats in this state long trending blue is increasingly tinged with nervousness.

The national Republican Party has increasingly embraced former President Donald Trump's false claims of fraud in the 2020 election.