RICHMOND, Va. — Gov. Ralph Northam and the two top leaders of the Virginia House are endorsing Hala Ayala in the crowded race for lieutenant governor.
Ayala is a two-term member of the House.
Northam, House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn and Democratic House Majority Leader Charniele Herring announced their support for Ayala in a news release ahead of a press conference Monday afternoon.
Five other Democrats are seeking the party's nomination.
The GOP side of the race is also crowded, with six candidates.
The lieutenant governor is a mostly ceremonial part-time job that involves presiding over the day-to-day work of the state Senate.
![Senator Mark Warner is among those expressing concern about Trump’s picks. “Some of the Trump appointments, you know, [Wednesday] was more than a little surprising."](https://media.13newsnow.com/assets/WVEC/images/1d9976ae-3c5d-49bf-98f1-6a0f38cdaa2f/20241115T041808/1d9976ae-3c5d-49bf-98f1-6a0f38cdaa2f_1920x1080.jpg)