Political analyst Sam Shirazi, host of the Federal Fallout podcast, joined Jim Lokay on "The Final 5" to break down why Virginia’s 2025 gubernatorial election is getting national attention—and how federal issues could overshadow local ones in the battle between Lt.

Republican Ian Lovejoy faces Democrat Elizabeth Guzmán for the Virginia House. Their race reflects broader political sentiments nationwide.

Virginia’s off-year elections are being viewed by both parties as a key bellwether heading into next year’s midterms, as well as a potential indicator for how voters view President Trump. Lt. Gov.

Virginia Republicans are hitting the Democratic nominee for attorney general, Jay Jones, hard with a soft-on-crime attack ad targeting the former delegate.

Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is currently grossly underperforming poll-wise in the state's bellwether gubernatorial race.

Virginia Republicans hold first joint rally with Youngkin, Earle-Sears and Miyares, drawing contrasts with blue states and highlighting economic improvements under GOP leadership.

House Speaker Don Scott has a list of 13 Republican-held seats he wants to flip from red to blue. But the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is spotlighting only eight of those 13 races.

As the countdown to Election Day 2025 begins, all eyes are once again on Virginia—a state that has long served as a bellwether for national political trends.

With control of Congress and competitive governorships on the line in 2026, the Democratic National Committee is launching an ambitious grassroots organizing effort with an early emphasis on the 2025 elections in the Commonwealth of Virginia.