Virginia Governor Election: Ralph Northam defeats Ed Gillespie

(AP) -- Voters in Virginia sent a clear message of rebuke to President Donald Trump as Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam defeated Republican Ed Gillespie in a hard-fought contest to be the state's next governor.

Northam rode to victory in part by tapping into voters' regret at Trump's victory in last year's national election.

Northam, a pediatric neurologist and the state's lieutenant governor, repeatedly tried to tie Gillespie to the president. His victory was in large part due to a surge in anti-Trump energy since the president took office. Democrats said they had record levels of enthusiasm heading into the race.

Gillespie kept Trump at a distance throughout the campaign but tried to rally the president's supporters with hard-edge attack ads focused on illegal immigration and preserving Confederate statues. They were not enough to block Northam's path to victory.

The win in Virginia is a morale boost to Democrats who so far have been unable to channel anti-Trump energy into success at the ballot box in a major election this year.

In Virginia, Northam's victory is another sign of the state's shift toward a more liberal electorate. Democrats have won every statewide election since 2009 and now have won four out of the last five gubernatorial contests. Northam banked heavily during the campaign on his near-perfect political resume and tried to cast himself as the low-key doctor with a strong southern drawl as the antidote to Trump.

"We need comfort food, Ralph is comfort food," Del. John Bell told volunteer canvassers at a rally over the weekend.

A pediatric neurologist and Army doctor, Northam made health care reform a centerpiece of his political career and current campaign, winning key allies along the way. He was a leading opponent of a Republican effort to mandate ultrasounds before abortions in 2012, winning him strong support from well-funded abortion-rights groups. As a state senator he was a leading opponent of a Republican effort to mandate ultrasounds before abortions in 2012, winning him strong support from well-funded abortion-rights groups.

Northam's victory is a blow to Republicans, who were hoping that Gillespie could provide a possible roadmap for moderate Republicans to follow in next year's midterm elections.

The updated results are below. Please check back for the most recent numbers as the returns come in. MOBILE USERS: See results here.

Below are results from other important races around the state of Virginia (mobile users: see results here):

More 2017 General Election results:

Virginia State House races

Local Virginia races

Local Maryland races