Article snippet: Voters head to the polls Tuesday in Virginia to decide their next governor in a race that has been closely watched as a bellwether for the 2018 Donald Trump’s influence in the only Southern state he lost in 2016. The race between Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, and former Confederate monuments. Since 2001, Republicans have won just one out of the four gubernatorial elections in Virginia, and national groups have poured money and resources into the state to boost Gillespie’s campaign. Trump did not campaign with Gillespie, but Vice President Mike Pence appeared with the candidate last month at a rally in southern Virginia. Northam has attracted support from national Democrats and appeared on the campaign trail with former President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Democrats are eager to pull out a win in Virginia as a tangible show of political resistance to the Trump presidency. Here’s a look at what you need to know about who is running and what matters in Tuesday’s election: Ralph Northam Northam, Virginia’s Democratic lieutenant governor, grew up on Virginia’s Eastern Shore and attended the Virginia Military Institute. He later served as an Army doctor and taught medicine and ethics at Eastern Virginia Medical School. He was elected lieutenant governor in 2013, serving under current Gov. Terry McAuliffe. This year he faced a strong primary challenger in former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello but was able to win the nomination with... Link to the full article to read more