(RightIsRight.co) – Some Americans have come to believe Virginia had gone blue for good, with many no longer considering it a swing state. However, as former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) faces off against Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin in the state’s gubernatorial election, the race is incredibly tight. Some polls even predict the GOP winning for the first time since 2009.
As early voting began, the University of Mary Washington conducted a survey with Research American, Inc., asking 1,000 Virginians who they would vote for in the election. Among likely voters, only 43% supported the favored Terry McAuliffe while 48% backed Republican candidate Youngkin.
Stephen Farnsworth, professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, said this election will likely be the “closest statewide election in years.” Much of this is due to the candidates’ differing opinions on vaccine mandates, abortion, and criminal reform.
Washington Post Senior Editor Marc Fisher highlighted how the state’s political outlook has shifted since it voted for Biden in November 2020. Although independents voting in Virginia selected Biden in the 2020 election “by 19 points,” they are now leaning toward Youngkin.
Post Poll: Though independent Virginia voters chose Biden by 19 points last year, Glenn Youngkin (R) now leads Terry McAuliffe (D) among independents, 52 percent to 44 percent in tight race for Virginia governor https://t.co/EXmOzQmSht
— Marc Fisher (@mffisher) September 18, 2021
Other polls released this week found McAuliffe leading Youngkin by a few points, although all polls have some margin of error. Overall, this is clearly a neck-and-neck race that could allow Republicans to win back Virginia.
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