Virginia voters determine direction of abortion policy, gun laws in tightly contested legislative primary elections

Virginia held primary elections on Tuesday to determine how each party seeks to gain more power in the General Assembly and confront hot-button issues such as abortion rights and gun violence.
Virginia's legislative elections could determine local abortion rulemaking and gun policy, control of statehouses, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin's legislative agenda.
Democratic candidates are divided over financial backing, while Republican candidates differ on their support for former President Trump.
Specific races to watch include the state Senate's 17th District, the Republican primary in the state Senate's 12th District, and the primary in the Virginia Senate's 13th District.
The primary elections have revolved around issues such as abortion rights, gun violence, affordable housing, and data center development.