Election — By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Justin E. Fairfax hopes to become the first African-American to win the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor since L. Douglas Wilder in 1985.

Meanwhile, rival Susan S. Platt hopes to become first female to carry the Democratic banner.

And Gene J. Rossi hopes to spoil both their ambitions and become the Democratic Party’s nominee for the state’s No. 2 job.

Next Tuesday, June 13, voters in Richmond and across the state will determine who moves on as the party’s standard bearer to the next round — the November general election.

Overshadowed by the tight primary contest for the Democratic nomination for governor, the trio have battled for endorsements and the attention of the relatively few voters expected to participate.

Projections suggest that up to 8 percent of the state’s nearly 5.5 million registered voters are expected to go to the polls next Tuesday, a day that is forecast to be a scorching 95 degrees.

The office that Mr. Fairfax, Ms. Platt and Mr. Rossi are vying for is regarded mostly as a stepping stone to run for governor. The duties are slim: To preside over the state Senate and cast tiebreaking votes, serve on various boards and be ready to take over if the governor is incapacitated or resigns.

All three Democrats live in Northern Virginia, a reflection of the voting power of the state’s most populous area.

All three also have never held public office.

Mr. Fairfax, 38, an attorney and former federal prosecutor, is considered the favorite. He narrowly lost the 2013 Democratic primary for attorney general to incumbent Mark Herring. He comes into the race with a lead in cash and endorsements.

Ms. Platt, 62, a lobbyist who has run numerous campaigns for others, jumped into the race in reaction to President Trump’s inauguration. If she wins the primary and the general election in November, she would be the first woman to hold one of the state’s two top elective offices.

Mr. Rossi, 60, and retired after 27 years as a federal prosecutor, is running a largely self-financed campaign and is the long-shot in the race.

The winner of the primary would face off in November against one of the three state lawmakers seeking the GOP nomination — Delegate Glenn R. Davis Jr. of Virginia Beach and state Sens. Bryce E. Reeves of Spotsylvania and Jill Holtzman Vogel of Fauquier.

Among the Democratic candidates, little separates their positions on issues. They all despise the president’s policies, support a higher minimum wage and an expansion of health care and increased state subsidies to make college more affordable, if not free.

They do stress different items in making their pitches.

Mr. Fairfax, for example, has said the economy would be his top priority as lieutenant governor. Along with supporting a $15 state minimum wage, he also plans to advocate for more training programs to provide good paying technology and blue-collar jobs and for reform of the criminal justice system to make it more about rehabilitation than punishment.

Ms. Platt has made fighting President Trump a linchpin of her campaign. She also has said she would push for more state action in fighting opioid addiction and push for more development in rural areas. Most recently, she drew attention with her call for the removal of Confederate statues and symbols from public property.

Mr. Rossi promotes expanding health care after his own treatment for a rare blood disease. He also has cared for a daughter who survived her battle with cancer. He wants to invest state money to provide full-day kindergarten in every locality.