Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Dueling Polls and Shutdown Jolt Virginia Governor’s Race

Virginia’s large federal workforce makes the shutdown a potent late-campaign issue.

Overview

  • New Emerson College/The Hill polling shows Abigail Spanberger leading Winsome Earle-Sears 52%–42%, while an A2 Insights survey puts the race at 48%–45%, highlighting a sharp divergence.
  • The federal government shutdown has become a central campaign fight in a state with more than 300,000 federal workers, with both campaigns issuing statements blaming the other side.
  • Early in-person voting began Sept. 19, and Emerson reports voters who already cast ballots favored Spanberger 60% to 38%.
  • Earle-Sears is saturating the airwaves with transgender-policy messaging, spending over $2 million in September on related ads to energize conservatives and sway independents.
  • Spanberger is emphasizing jobs and costs and is airing a new ad attacking Earle-Sears on abortion, as polling identifies the economy as voters’ top concern at about 35%.