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%.