The two wildcards shaping the tail end of the Virginia race for governor

Virginia Republican candidate for governor, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, and former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for governor, wait to speak at the 54th Annual Buena Vista Labor Day Festival on Sept. 1 in Buena Vista, Va. The commonwealth will hold its off-year election for governor and other statewide offices on Nov. 4.

Virginia is just weeks away from electing a new governor, but the government shutdown and an explosive text message scandal in the race for attorney general could reshape the election.

(Image credit: Win McNamee)