Richmond Power Poll respondents weigh in on state elections
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Respondents to this month’s Richmond Power Poll are mostly split about the upcoming statewide elections in Virginia.
A slight majority of respondents (52.4%) indicated that they did not want state Democrats to emerge from the November elections maintaining their grip on the state’s two highest seats – governor and lieutenant governor – and both houses of the General Assembly, while about 43% said they hoped the party would retain control of all four. Fewer than 5% were undecided.
Asked whether they prefer Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin for governor or whoever emerges next month as the Democratic nominee, a slim majority (43% to 38%) chose the latter, but 19% said they were undecided.
Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe is viewed by most observers as the favorite to win the Democratic gubernatorial nomination again. Voters will decide June 8 among five party candidates – a group that also includes State Sen. Jennifer McClellan and former Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy (either of whom would become the nation’s Black female governor); current Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax; and current Del. Lee Carter.
Respondents to this month’s poll expressed similar sentiments when asked whether they would prefer Republican nominee Winsome Sears or whoever emerges as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor to claim that seat in November; About 38% favored the Democrat, while nearly 29% favored Sears but 33% were undecided.
This month’s poll had a total response rate of 18.5%. Richmond Power Poll is not a scientific poll.
Democratic candidates for the lieutenant governor’s seat include Hala Ayala, Mark Levine, Andria McClellan, Sean Perryman, Xavier Warren and Sam Rasoul.
In the race for attorney general, two-term incumbent Democrat Mark Herring is facing an intense primary challenge from Del. Jay Jones (who earned the endorsement of current Gov. Ralph Northam). The Republican nominee is Jason Miyares.
Respondents to the poll favored the eventual Democratic nominee over Miyares, but only by a margin of 28% to 33%, with nearly 29% still undecided.