The election for the next governor of Virginia is fast approaching.

Glenn Youngkin has secured the GOP nomination for governor of Virginia. Youngkin’s nomination was the first major step in the Virginia gubernatorial elections.

On June 8, the Democratic party will choose their candidate through a primary election. Just like the elections last year, Virginia residents have the option to vote early in-person, by mail or by the drop box in front of city hall. To vote by mail or by drop box, voters will have to ask for a ballot by May 28. Voters can also vote on primary day.

June 8 will be a dual primary day, so voters will have to choose a Democratic or Republican ballot. Voters can only vote in one election, but you do not need to be registered to a certain party to vote in the election, according to the Virginia Department of Elections.

In Lexington, voters who choose the Democratic ballot will select the Democratic nominees for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. Voters who select the Republican ballot will vote on a nominee for the member of the House of Delegates for Virginia’s 24th district.

Several people are in the running for the Democratic nominations in all categories, but the candidate who is getting the most attention is Terry McAuliffe. He was governor from 2014 to 2018 and is running for a second term.

His past term has made him a popular candidate. He received an endorsement from Gov. Ralph Northam last month, as well as an endorsement from an opinion writer at the Washington Post.

“Let’s all get behind him,” Northam said at his endorsement speech. “Let’s keep Virginia blue, and let’s win in November.”

Other candidates who are running for the Democratic nomination for governor are current Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, former state Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy, state Del. Lee J. Carter and state Sen. Jennifer Mc-Clellan, who serves Virginia’s 9th Senate District.

All of the Democratic candidates have more political experience than Youngkin, the Republican nominee and former president of the Carlyle Group. But his lack of political experience has not stopped him from receiving plenty of endorsements.

After Youngkin secured the nominee spot, Donald Trump posted a statement on his website endorsing Youngkin.

“Glenn is pro-Business, pro-Second Amendment, pro-Veterans, pro-America, he knows how to make Virginia’s economy rip-roaring, and he has my Complete and Total Endorsement!” Trump’s statement said. “Virginia doesn’t need the Clintons or the Communist Chinese running the state, so say no to Terry McAuliffe, and yes to Patriot Glenn Youngkin!”

An endorsement from Trump is a big deal for Youngkin, but it does not necessarily mean that he will secure a win.

Joe Biden won Virginia with 54.4% of the vote in Virginia, and since 2008, Virginia has been a predominately blue state.

Madison Williams, ’23, a Virginia voter from Charlottesville, did not know that she would be voting for the next governor in November, but she said she will do her research to vote for the best candidate.

Everyone has an opinion on who the best candidate might be, so be sure to vote in the primary election on June 8 and in the general election on November 2. The Ring-tum Phi will keep you updat-ed on the election as it progresses over the next few months.