5 things to know about elections this fall that could change the balance of power
2. Virginia’s gubernatorial election
Virginia’s Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin is term-limited and therefore cannot run for a second term. Voters in the Old Dominion will weigh in on his successor this fall, choosing between former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and the state’s Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears.
The RealClearPolitics average of polls for the Virginia gubernatorial election, dating back to Feb. 26, shows Spanberger winning 50.7% of the vote to Sears’ 43.6%, giving the former congresswoman a lead of 7.1 percentage points. Regardless of who wins the gubernatorial election this year, Virginia is set to have its first female governor in the commonwealth’s history next year.
Unlike in New Jersey, where gubernatorial candidates choose their running mates who will serve as their lieutenant governor, Virginia elects its lieutenant governors on a separate ticket. While polling of the lieutenant gubernatorial race is much more limited, a poll of 842 registered voters conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University from Oct. 6-14 shows Democrat Ghazala Hashmi leading Republican John Reid 44% to 43%.
Meanwhile, a survey of 927 likely voters conducted by The Washington Post and the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University from Oct. 16-20 shows Hashmi at 51% and Reid at 44%. On the other hand, a Suffolk University poll of 500 likely voters conducted from Oct. 19-21 shows the candidates tied at 45% apiece.
While Democrats appear favored in the gubernatorial race and slightly favored in the lieutenant gubernatorial race, the Virginia Attorney General’s race is much more competitive after text messages surfaced showing the Democratic nominee, Jay Jones, fantasizing about murdering the then-Republican Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Todd Gilbert.
The RealClearPolitics average of polls taken since Sept. 29 shows Republican Jason Miyares with 46.4% and Jones at 44.0%, giving Miyares a lead of 2.4 percentage points.
In addition to the three statewide races, all 100 seats in the House of Delegates will be on the ballot. Democrats hold a majority of seats in the chamber. Since elections for the Democrat-controlled Virginia Senate won’t be held until 2027, the possibility of Virginia Democrats achieving a trifecta by gaining control of both chambers of the state Legislature as well as the governor’s office looms large.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
