Republican Glenn Youngkin has been elected as Virginia’s next governor in a major upset, according to US media projections.

He was 2.1 points ahead of Democrat Terry McAuliffe, with 99% of votes counted.

Mr McAuliffe, who served as governor from 2014-18, saw his opinion poll lead vanish in recent weeks.

The ballot has been widely seen as a referendum on Joe Biden’s presidency, and defeat will unnerve the Democrats.

Mr Biden won by 10 points in Virginia in the presidential election just a year ago.

In a speech to cheering fans, Mr Youngkin promised to get to work straight away to transform the state.

“We work in real people time, not government time,” the Republican declared.

The state’s current, Democratic governor, Ralph Northam, was unable to stand for re-election as Virginia does not allow governors to serve consecutive terms in office.

In more potential good news for Republicans in the state, their candidate, former US Marine Winsome Sears, is tipped to become the first black female lieutenant governor of the state, which was the former seat of the pro-slavery Confederacy during the American Civil War.