Jan 15, 2025 Story by: Editor
Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears (R) is locked in a competitive race with her potential Democratic opponents in the upcoming gubernatorial election, according to a poll released on Friday.
Polling data from Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy reveals that Earle-Sears is trailing Democratic candidate and former Representative Abigail Spanberger (Va.) by a narrow margin of 47 percent to 44 percent, with 9 percent of respondents undecided.
In a hypothetical matchup with Representative Bobby Scott (D-Va.), who is reportedly considering entering the race, Earle-Sears holds a slight edge, leading Scott 46 percent to 44 percent. However, 10 percent of voters remain undecided in this scenario.
The same poll highlighted the popularity of current Governor Glenn Youngkin (R), which could benefit Earle-Sears. Youngkin enjoys a strong approval rating, with 58 percent of Virginians expressing satisfaction with his performance as governor, while 37 percent disapprove, and 5 percent are unsure.
Earle-Sears officially launched her campaign in September, receiving backing from Youngkin, who is limited to one term. Spanberger declared her candidacy in November 2023, and Scott recently told Punchbowl News that he has not ruled out running.
An Emerson College poll released on Thursday offered a slightly different perspective, showing Spanberger leading Earle-Sears by a single point, 42 percent to 41 percent. In this poll, 4 percent of respondents favored another candidate, while 13 percent were undecided.
The Virginia gubernatorial race is expected to be one of the most closely watched elections of 2025. While Vice President Kamala Harris carried Virginia in last year’s election, her margin of victory was narrower than President Biden’s in 2020. Harris defeated President-elect Trump by just under 6 points, compared to Biden’s 10-point margin over Trump four years earlier. Source: The Hill
