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Live from NPR News in Washington. I'm Jack Spear. Polls have just closed in Virginia at this hour. Voters they're

electing their state legislators.

Jan Khalil of V. P. P. M. News is in Petersburg a competitive district where he says Democratic voters

are listing abortion as a top priority. Virginia is the last southern state

without new abortion restrictions since the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

Governor Glen Yunken won in an upset two years ago,

breaking a losing streak for Republicans running statewide. But then many of the areas he won

swung towards the Democrats in congressional elections.

Wilma Nedrick was one of many who said abortion was a major motivator for her vote.

The main one is this election is about women's rights.

And that's a definite for me in this election and the

last one. Governor Yunkin has promised a 15-week ban if voters here usher in a

GOP controlled general assembly. For NPR News I'm Jad Khalil in Petersburg, Virginia.

Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tubberville has been blocking nearly all military

promotions since February in protest of an unrelated

Pentagon abortion policy, but NPR's Lauren Hodges reports

a temporary Senate rule could be the solution.

Senator Taberville's colleagues, including

fellow Republicans, have grown frustrated with his blocking hundreds of crucial military appointments.

But unable to move him, there's growing support to temporarily alter current rules,

allowing the Senate to confirm almost all of the delayed

...