Margaret Barthel

For NPR News, I'm Margaret Barthel in Sterling, Virginia.

High drive deep to left field.

It's Smith with a big swing.

Winsome Earl Sears is the current lieutenant governor and the GOP nominee for governor.

That line got her a standing ovation.

Criticizing Democrats for policies allowing transgender kids to use bathrooms and locker rooms aligned with their gender identity and not their birth sex has been a key closing message for Earl Sears.

The Democrat in the race, Abigail Spanberger, says local communities should decide on how to handle these issues, not the state.

She's focused instead on affordability in the closing days of the race.

For NPR News, I'm Margaret Barthel in Sterling, Virginia.

Jason Moses is a 23-year Army veteran who has also served in federal civilian roles.

His first shutdown came in 1995 when he was about to deploy on a peacekeeping mission to Bosnia.

Now he's a federal contractor and says his paycheck may be affected if the shutdown continues for multiple weeks.

He's usually frustrated by shutdowns, but says he supports this one.

Dozens of attendees voiced agreement with him at the event.

Suhas Subramaniam's district in the D.C.

suburbs is home to more than 36,000 federal employees.

For NPR News, I'm Margaret Barthel in Arlington, Virginia.