As Virginia voters head to polls Tuesday, polls leading up to the gubernatorial election show a very tight race.

Three of the last four polls have Youngkin leading McAulliffe as the former co-chief executive of Carlye Groups Inc. looks to become the state’s first Republican governor since Bob McDonnell in 2009. Polls from FiveThirtyEight show the two candidates in a statistical tie.

Youngkin is running on banning the teaching of critical race theory, raising teachers’ salaries, investing in special education programs, fully funding law enforcement, passing voter ID laws, and an aim to create 400,000 jobs.

McAuliffe is the former chair of the Democratic National Committee and has held top positions in the presidential campaigns of both Bill and Hillary Clinton. McAuliffe did not seek reelection in 2018 as the state’s constitution bars governors from serving consecutive terms.

This time, McAuliffe plans to lower healthcare premiums and the price of prescription drugs, ban assault weapons, raise the minimum wage to $15/hour by 2024, make childcare more affordable, create affordable housing, and provide paid sick, family, and medical leave.

The race in Virginia could be a preview of what’s to come in next November’s midterm elections as Republican victories in 1993 and 2009 preceded the GOP taking back the House in 1994 and 2010. In 2017 Democrats attained control of the governor’s mansion and would later take back the House in 2018 following the election of former President Trump.

Exit polls in Virginia show that education is a top issue for many voters in Virginia as many parents oppose the teaching of critical race theory, which is not currently taught in Virginia's K-12 Schools.

"We will not teach our children to view everything through a lens of race," Youngkin said to cheers at a rally outside Richmond on Monday.

The pandemic could also play a big role in the election as Youngkin said he would rescind mask mandates in schools and allow parents to decide what is best for their children. On the other hand, McAulliffe supports current pandemic precautions and says he will continue to enforce vaccine mandates for state employees, healthcare workers, and teachers. McAuliffe plans to create incentives to vaccinate as many people as possible.

With expanded voting this year, voter turnout could be very high as 1.1 million people have already voted in the election.

"I need you to drive out that vote tomorrow," said McAuliffe on Monday. "I got a big lead on the early vote, but I have to have a big lead tomorrow on the in-person day. Are you going to deliver that for me?"

Polls are set to close at 7 p.m. EDT.

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