NORFOLK, Va. — It's Super Tuesday! Voting is underway in 16 states across the country, including Virginia and North Carolina. Millions of Americans will decide who they want to represent their party in the race for president.
Experts in Hampton Roads are keeping a close eye on the results and what they could mean for the nation, including what voter turnout can tell us about election strategy.
"As Virginia goes, so does the rest of the country,” said Dr. Eric Claville, a political expert who teaches at Norfolk State University.
Claville told 13News Now that Virginia has become a key to predicting trends over the last few election cycles, and it could set the tone for the issues parties use to galvanize their voters come November.
Key issues on voters' minds include the economy, reproductive rights, and immigration, along with criminal justice, gun control and the country's involvement in wars in the Middle East and Europe.
In North Carolina, new congressional lines mean the state could break from a 7-7 split in the U.S. House to a Republican-leaning state. Experts told 13News Now that the GOP could win 10 or 11 of the state's seats in Congress come November.
“Given the razor-thin margins, North Carolina will play a major part in bolstering the power of the Republican Party and the issues, not just this cycle, [but] by ‘26, ‘28,” Claville said.
Professor Jason Husser of Elon University said he's looking for insight into former President Donald Trump's hold on the GOP in the Tar Heel state.
"I think that's going to be a good indication of how deep the Trump commitment in this state is, and probably a tea leaf to read as we think toward North Carolina's electoral college votes that are up for grabs in November,” Husser told 13News Now.
Polls will remain open in North Carolina until 7:30 p.m.