NORFOLK, Va. — A poll released Tuesday by The Wason Center at Christopher Newport University shows a deadlocked race between Republicans and Democrats in the upcoming Virginia General Assembly elections, and indicates Virginians care most about the economy, abortion and K-12 education as they decide their vote.
The poll results come with just a few weeks to go until the November 7 Election Day, when all 140 seats in the Virginia General Assembly will be on the ballot for the first time since 2019. It is also the first time in 10 years that a Republican trifecta — party control of the governorship and both chambers of the legislature — is possible in Virginia.
The Wason Center for Civic Leadership, which is known for survey research and nonpartisan analysis of politics in the Commonwealth, held a morning press conference with Research Lab Director Dr. Rebecca Bromley-Trujillo to detail the survey and its results.
She said that researchers at The Wason Center conducted 800 interviews between Sept. 28 and Oct. 11 with Virginians who are likely to vote this November, based on their recent voting history.
Among the most notable findings: 42% of Virginians polled said they would vote for Democratic candidates, while 41% said they would vote for Republicans, a result that falls within the poll's 4% margin of error.
Participants were also asked in the survey which policy issues were of highest importance to them as they head to the voter booth next month. Here's a breakdown of what they said.
Economy, inflation top issues for Virginia voters
When it comes to the main issues on the minds of Virginians going into the election, 27% of those polled said the economy and inflation were top of mind, while 17% said abortion and 12% said K-12 education.
The poll found that top issues vary among Republicans, Democrats and Independents, though.
Top issues for Republicans and Independents who took the survey are the economy and inflation, at 41% and 30% respectively, while Democrats said abortion is their highest concern, at 25%.
Most Virginians oppose new abortion restrictions, including 15-week ban
Of Virginians polled, 49% said the state's current laws on abortion should stay the same, while 23% said the state should make the laws less restrictive and 24% said the laws should be more restrictive.
The poll indicates that 54% of Virginians either oppose or strongly oppose Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's proposed 15-week ban on abortion, while 39% either support or strongly support it.
Large majority supports Youngkin's transgender student policies
The poll indicates that 67% of Virginians support requiring parental notification if a student wants to go by pronouns that differ from their birth certificate. And 65% also support preventing transgender athletes from participating in sports teams that match their current gender identity.
Of those polled, 53% said they support preventing transgender students from using bathrooms corresponding with a different gender than their birth sex.
Most Virginians support teaching racism's impacts, while book bans are highly unpopular
A majority of Virginians polled said they think public schools should teach how racism in America’s history impacts the country today, with 38% saying it should be taught a great deal and 31% saying a good amount.
Along party lines, 12% of Republicans polled said it should be taught a great deal, compared to 69% of Democrats.
When it comes to banning books in public school libraries, 84% of Virginians polled said they disagreed with removing books that any parent objects to, even if other parents like the book.
The poll also found that 73% agree that it is important for public school libraries to have books representing different perspectives about controversial issues, even if it makes some uncomfortable.
Majority supports legalizing retail marijuana sales in Virginia, staying in RGGI
The poll also indicated that 58% of Virginians want retail sales of recreational marijuana to be allowed, with majority support from Democrats (76%) and Independents (59%) and 38% support from Republicans.
A large majority (65%) said they want Virginia to stay in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which caps carbon dioxide emissions from power plants across 11 states. 26% support leaving the program.
Virginia Democrats more enthusiastic to vote, but Youngkin is popular
Democrats have the edge when it comes to voter enthusiasm, with 37% of those polled indicating they have given the upcoming election a lot of thought and 33% giving it some thought.
On the Republican side, 30% have given the election a lot of thought and 31% have given it some thought. 27% of Independents have thought about the election a lot and 38% have thought about it some.
While Youngkin isn't on the ballot in November, the poll found that he has a high approval rating — of the Virginians surveyed, 55% approve of the job Youngkin is doing, compared to 41% approval for Democratic President Joe Biden.