RICHMOND (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The front runners in the Virginia Governor’s race filed petitions Monday, on the first day they could, with the State Department of Elections to get on the ballot in their June 17 primaries. Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who chose not to run for re-election to Virginia 7th Congressional District so she could seek the Democrats’ nomination for Governor, submitted some 40,000 names. Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, who announced her intention back in September to seek the Republicans’ nomination for Governor, submitted about 20,000. They need at least 10,000 Virginia legal voter signatures, with at least 400 from each Congressional District, to be approved for the ballot.

Spanberger, at this time, is not opposed for the Democrats’ nomination though Virginia 3rd District Representative Bobby Scott indicated around the new year he was considering entering the nomination race. For the Republicans, former northern Virginia state Delegate Dave LaRock is gathering signatures for a run, as is former state Senator Amanda Chase, who now lives in Appomattox. The deadline is April 3 for the petitions to be submitted.