

Republican lieutenant governor candidate Jill Vogel; Democratic candidate Justin Fairfax. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post and Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

When Virginians head to the polls on Tuesday, they may be surprised to see that there's a lieutenant governor's race, a contest that has been overshadowed by the high-stakes gubernatorial contest between Ralph Northam (D) and Ed Gillespie (R).

Unlike in other states, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor in Virginia run separately, not as a team.

[Gillespie vs Northam: A guide to Virginia governor’s race]

No matter who wins in November, Virginia will get long-awaited diversity in a state that's only had white men serve in statewide office since 1993.

Democrat Justin Fairfax would be the first African American in statewide office since L. Douglas Wilder became lieutenant governor and then the nation's first elected black governor in 1989. Republican Jill Vogel would be the first-ever woman in the lieutenant governor role, and only the second in statewide office since Attorney General Mary Sue Terry.

Here's a rundown on the candidates and the issues. But first ...

WHAT'S A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DO?

There's an old joke that the lieutenant governor's job is to check the governor's pulse since they are next in the line of succession and have few official responsibilities. Northam, the current occupant and a physician, likes to quip that he's been the perfect man for the job.

Beyond that, the lieutenant governor is a part-time officeholder whose main responsibility is presiding over the 40-member state Senate during the legislative session and to break ties when needed. The lieutenant governor also sits on various state boards and commissions, and can use the visibility of the position to advocate for pet causes.

In practice, the lieutenant's governor's office is a launchpad for higher office. Every occupant in modern history has sought the governor's mansion or a seat in Congress.

Former Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling refreshingly said in his 2005 campaign, "Anyone who says that they are running for lieutenant governor but they don't want to be governor is lying." Neither candidate this year is tipping his or her hand regarding plans.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Democrat Justin Fairfax



Democratic candidate for Virginia lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax greets the crowd after a campaign event Oct. 29 at Blue Bee Cider in Richmond. (Julia Rendleman for The Washington Post)

He's a 38-year-old white collar attorney in Fairfax County making his second attempt to win statewide office. Raised by a single mother in the District, he's worked as a U.S. Senate staffer, clerk to a federal judge, federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia and private attorney representing clients from student loan providers to the grocery chain Giant.

Fairfax brings energy on the campaign trail to balance out the more low-key Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring (who beat him in the 2013 Democratic primary for that office). But Fairfax's candidacy has also brought to light concerns that Democrats are neglecting the black voter after he was left off some campaign mailers printed for a union that endorsed Northam, but not him.

Our profile: Once a party crasher, Fairfax pays his dues before making his second run

Republican Jill Vogel



Jill Vogel, Virginian Republican lieutenant governor candidate, and her daughter Olivia, greet voters at a campaign rally with Vice President Pence on Oct. 14 in Abingdon. (Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)

She's a 47-year-old state senator from Fauquier County and longtime attorney for Republican causes. The daughter of businessman and prolific GOP donor William Holtzman, Vogel became a big player in national GOP politics as general counsel to the Republican National Committee and was elected to the state legislature in 2007.

While the rest of the Republican statewide ticket toes a careful line with President Trump, she wholeheartedly embraces him on the campaign. On television, Vogel presents a different image as a mother of four who champions women's rights — even as Democrats hammer her for sponsoring a bill in 2012 that would have required invasive ultrasounds for women undergoing abortions early in their pregnancy.

Our profile: Jill Vogel brings a sunny personality and hard-right policies to campaign

KEY DIFFERENCES

Health care

Vogel is airing an ad accusing Fairfax of supporting a government-run, single-payer health care system. It's a reference to a candidate questionnaire completed by Fairfax's campaign that indicated he would support a "Medicare-for-all-system."

Fairfax has walked back that position: He says he prefers more incremental and feasible steps to affordable health coverage, namely, expanding Medicaid to low-income Virginians. Vogel opposes Medicaid expansion as unsustainable for the state budget.

Confederate monuments

Fairfax has said resources spent on removing Confederate monuments are better directed toward dismantling other "barriers" to racial equality, including disparities in how students are punished in schools and difficulties minority entrepreneurs face in getting access to capital. He personally supports removing statues, but says localities should make that decision — a position that the rest of the Democratic ticket shares after initially vowing to advocate for their removal.

But Vogel has hammered Fairfax for calling the statues divisive and harmful, a message she has underlined at appearances before white, rural voters in southwest Virginia. At a rally with Vice President Pence in the coal country town of Abingdon, her campaign signs were plastered with a label saying "Teach history, don't erase it."



Justin Fairfax gestures during a debate with Jill Vogel at the University of Richmond on Oct. 5. (Steve Helber/AP)

Guns

Vogel has the highest rating from the National Rifle Association of all Republicans running statewide: an A+. She brags about authoring the most pro-gun bills as a state senator and apologized for calling for more gun control after the Sandy Hook shootings in what she described as a momentary, emotional reaction.

Fairfax, who has an F rating from the NRA, supports universal background checks to purchase firearms, as well as a ban on high-capacity magazines and assault weapons.

HOW TO VOTE

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and you must present photo identification. The registration deadline has passed.

You can confirm your registration status and find the location of your polling place here.

ADDITIONAL READING

Vogel's ads call her an ethics attorney. She represents 'dark money' groups

Fairfax's omission from campaign literature reveals tensions in party

Much lampooned ultrasound bill revived in first lieutenant governor debate

RTD: Doug Wilder endorses Fairfax — and suggests Democrats treated him poorly

Primary rival accused Vogel of being behind false affair rumors