CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger still holds a solid lead over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in the race for Virginia governor, but that advantage has narrowed.
Spanberger, a former Congresswoman leads 49%-40% over Earle-Sears, the current lieutenant governor, according to the latest poll released Tuesday by VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.
That’s down from the 12-point edge Spanberger held a month earlier.
The races for lieutenant governor and attorney general are even tighter, according to the polling conducted from Aug. 18-28.
The latest Wilder School poll has Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor holding a 45%-41% lead over Republican John Reid, the former conservative radio personality.
Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general, has a 47%-41% lead on Republican incumbent Jason Miyares.
The Democratic numbers have largely stayed stagnant from the earlier poll, while the Republican nominees have gained more support, potentially with independent and previously undecided voters.
A Roanoke College poll released Aug. 19 found similar trends, with Spanberger holding a 7-point lead over Earle-Sears (46%-39%). Hashmi led Reid 38%-35% in that poll, which had Jones ahead of Miyares 41%-38%.
According to the VCU poll, 28% of those polled listed the rising cost of living as their top issue this election cycle. Women’s reproductive rights ranked No. 1 for 13% of respondents, while immigration and education each were named by 12%.
