President Trump’s not on the ballot, but he was energetically campaigning for Republicans on Tuesday as voters in Kentucky and Mississippi headed to the polls in close governors races.

Democrats in Virginia, meanwhile, looked to flip the handful of legislative seats they need to take control of that state’s government.

The election results will be closely scrutinized for clues to how next year’s presidential contest could unfold, and Trump tweeted repeatedly about the elections, urging his supporters to head to the polls.

“Fantastic being in the Great State of Kentucky last night. Vote for Matt Bevin NOW! @MattBevin One of Best Governors in U.S. He will never let you down!” the president wrote about the contest in the Bluegrass State, where Bevin is in a tight race with Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear.

The commander in chief also urged Republicans to stop Democrats from taking control of Virginia’s state’s government.

“I hope everyone in the Great State of Virginia will get out and VOTE on Tuesday in all of the local and state elections to send a signal to D.C. that you want lower taxes, a strong Military, Border & 2nd Amendment, great healthcare, and must take care of our Vets. VOTE REPUBLICAN,” Trump tweeted.

“Virginia has the best Unemployment and Economic numbers in the history of the State. If the Democrats get in, those numbers will go rapidly in the other direction. On Tuesday, Vote Republican!” he added.

In Kentucky and Mississippi, where Trump won easily in 2016 and remains popular, the Republican candidates have nationalized the races as much as possible by tying themselves to the president.

The same is true in Republican-leaning Louisiana, where early voting has started ahead of the Nov. 16 gubernatorial election pitting incumbent Democrat John Bel Edwards against Republican challenger Eddie Rispone, a staunch Trump backer, and the subject of another tweet.

“Louisiana, get out and Vote Early for @EddieRispone as your next Governor. Lower Taxes and car insurance. Will protect your 2nd Amendment. John Bel Edwards is always fighting our MAGA Agenda. Wants to raise your taxes and car insurance to the sky. Vote for Republican Eddie R!” the president wrote.

Trump held a rally in Lexington, Kentucky on Monday night to support Bevin, who is trying to overcome anemic approval ratings.

A Morning Consult poll late last month showed that just 34 percent of Kentuckians approved of his job performance.

Trump’s speech to thousands of supporters was an explicit attempt to make the Kentucky governor’s election a referendum on his presidency as he battles an impeachment probe in the House.

Kentuckians need to re-elect Bevin, said Trump, or else pundits will say: “Trump suffered the greatest defeat in the history of the world. You can’t let that happen to me!”

The visit followed a speech Trump delivered in Mississippi on Friday, where the Republican lieutenant governor, Tate Reeves, is running against Democratic Attorney General Jim Hood.

Polls show both Beshear and Hood have a chance to score an upset despite their states’ Republican leanings.

But he has taken a narrow lead over Beshear in recent weeks after staunchly defending Trump against the impeachment inquiry.

In Mississippi, where Gov. Phil Bryant, a Republican, is barred by term limits from running again, Reeves holds a small edge in polls over Hood, a moderate Democrat who opposes abortion and favors gun rights.

The Virginia contest has drawn heavy attention and money from both parties. Independent analysts say Democrats are slightly favored to erase the razor-thin margins Republicans currently hold in both chambers of the state legislature, Reuters reported.

Virginia’s statehouse races have been so tight, in fact, that the last one was decided by a random draw from a fishbowl.

Former veep Joe Biden, a Democratic presidential front-runner, visited Virginia over the weekend to campaign with several statehouse candidates, and Vice President Pence held a rally on Saturday.

Other Democratic presidential contenders, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker, have also campaigned with local candidates.
Trump has avoided Virginia, where Democrats found success in suburban swing districts in last year’s congressional elections.

Tuesday’s election could offer a test of whether the anti-Trump surge that tipped those districts remains potent.

“You’re seeing this nationalization happen,” said Kyle Kondik, an elections analyst at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. “These states are good tests for that.”

Polls close in Kentucky at 6 p.m. New York time; in Virginia at 7 p.m. and in Mississippi at 8 p.m.

With Post Wires