Poll: Virginia governor’s race tightens, Democrat ahead

A new statewide poll shows Democrat Abigail Spanberger leading Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in Virginia’s governor’s race, with fewer than two months left until Election Day. 

Spanberger holds 49% support and Earle-Sears has 40%, according to a press release from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.  The survey was conducted between Aug. 18 and 28. The release shared the responses from the 764 people surveyed who identified as registered voters. (In total,  804 adults were surveyed. The full results are here.

In the lieutenant governor’s race, Democrat Ghazala Hashmi leads with a slight advantage over Republican John Reid, at 45% to 41%. For attorney general, Democrat Jay Jones holds a 47% to 41% edge over incumbent Republican Jason Miyares.

The poll also revealed the top issues driving voters ahead of Nov. 4. Twenty-eight percent of those polled cited the rising cost of living as their most important concern, followed by what the poll termed “women’s reproductive rights,” at 13%. Immigration and education tied for third, at 12%.

In the release, former Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder, a Democrat, said that because Virginia and New Jersey are the only states holding elections this November, “there is much speculation as to what these results portend for the political landscape.” 

Early in-person voting runs Sept. 19 through Nov. 1, and Election Day is Nov. 4.