Brad Kuttner

Though they didn't want to say who they voted for in the race for Virginia governor between Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earl Sears, two voters talked about why they voted.

Keisha Spencer is a preschool center director in Chesterfield.

She said federal cuts to programs inspired her to vote.

68-year-old retired CPA James Walker says he's voted every year since he was 18.

He said it was his duty, responsibility, and privilege to vote.

For NPR News, I'm Brad Kuttner in Richmond.

Republican state senator and constitutional lawyer Bill Stanley joined a growing number of Virginia Republicans who say more than 800,000 early votes cast before Thursday's announcement should void Democrats' redistricting scheme.

Virginia Democrats have so far said little about the effort, but a lawmaker familiar with the process said any GOP efforts to use the courts to slow it down are a, quote, desperate Hail Mary to deflect from their undemocratic efforts to prevent accountability nationwide for their policies.

For NPR News, I'm Brad Kuttner in Richmond.