#Virginia Republicans vote in gubernatorial convention

Virginia Republicans cast their ballots Saturday in the Virginia GOP gubernatorial “convention” as the party looks to retake the Richmond governor’s mansion for the first time since 2014.

GOP voters gathered at 39 voting facilities across the state to cast their ballot. The election is using ranked-choice voting for the first time, and experts said it will be days before a final tally is known.

Among the are Virginia state senator Amanda F. Chase, House of Delegates member Kirk Cox and former Virginia House Speaker and retired military man Col. Sergio de la Peña. Some non-professional pols also seeking the top job include former private equity executive Glenn Youngkin; Peter Doran, a think tank exec;, Pete Snyder, a tech entrepreneur; and Octavia Johnson, a former Roanoke sheriff.

“The advantage of ranked choice ensures that the person who emerges from the convention season and the party process has the broadest base of support,” a GOP operative told The Post.

The race will likely be an uphill climb for Republicans who haven’t won statewide office in 12 years. The party’s last governor, Bob McDonnell, served an unhappy term which saw him indicted on federal corruption charges and sentenced to two years in prison. (The conviction was ultimately overturned by the United States Supreme Court.)

Virginia law forbids incumbent governors from immediately running for a second term, meaning the state’s current leader, Ralph Northam, won’t be on the ballot. Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe is expected to win the June 8 Democratic primary.

The GOP candidate will face off against the winner of the Democratic primary in November.