Democrat Abigail Spanberger continues to maintain a decisive lead over Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in the race to be Virginia’s next governor, according to a new poll.

Spanberger led Earle-Sears by 48.6% to 40.3%, according to Virginia Commonwealth University Wilder School‘s polling from Aug. 18 to Aug. 28 of 748 registered voters who said they are likely to vote.

The poll suggested Earle-Sears’ support had edged up from July, but the change was within the survey’s margin of error, which means the change may or may not be significant.

In the race for lieutenant governor, the poll found state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, leading Republican John Reid by 44.5% to 41.3%. The rise in Reid’s support was just outside the margin of error.

Former Norfolk Del. Jay Jones led Attorney General Jason Miyares, a former Virginia Beach delegate, 46.7% to 41.4%.

“Abigail Spanberger leads Winsome Earle-Sears 49% to 40%, suggesting that (Gov. Glenn) Youngkin’s endorsement is likewise not carrying the weight he might have expected,” said former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, distinguished professor at the Wilder School.

The poll suggested that two centerpieces of the statewide GOP ticket’s platform — Virginians’ tax burden and crime — are not resonating as strongly with voters as their worries about the rising cost of living.

It found 7.4% of voters said tax burden was their top concern, while 11.4% said crime is, compared with 27.8% saying the cost of living was the most important issue.

Women’s reproductive health was the top issue for 12.7% and education for 12.1%.

The poll found that 9.2% of voters were still undecided between Spanberger and Earle-Sears.

The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

https://www.dailypress.com/2025/09/13/governors-race-polling/