Richmond, VA –
A new poll finds that Congressional Democratic candidates are in a statistical dead heat (46%) with Republicans (45%), despite the challenging national environment and the party’s statewide losses in the state last year. In addition, Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin’s job approval is only 43%, lower than polls in March 2022 and approximately 8% lower than his vote share in the November 2021 election.
The statewide survey of 696 Virginia voters, conducted by Public Policy Polling, has a margin of error of +/-3.7%. The survey was paid for by Energized For Change PAC (EFC), the PAC led by Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.
The survey results also show strong support for smart anti-crime policies, including sensible prevention of gun violence.
Key findings of the EFC poll show strong support for Democratic positions on the major public-policy issues of 2022:
- 70% believe teachers in the classroom, not politicians, should be responsible for what is taught in public school.
- 65% support Virginia declaring a state of emergency to protect drivers and consumers from price gouging by gas stations.
- 64% support sensible gun control to reduce violent crime.
- 64% oppose efforts to reduce wages, employment protections, and safety protections for teachers, health care workers, first responders, and other essential workers;
- 63% support increasing the minimum wage to $15-an-hour.
- 62% support efforts to accurately teach American history in the classroom.
- 57% oppose the likely Supreme Court decision to outlaw abortions in Virginia and throughout the United States.
According to Filler-Corn: “This survey confirms once again that Democrats are more in tune with the people of Virginia, from the schoolhouse to the State House, and that Virginians want to be protected economically and in their communities. We look forward to sharing these polling results with Democrats across the state as we continue working to make progress in the coming months and years.”
Last week, Filler-Corn announced the re-launch of Energized for Change. This week’s poll is part of Energized for Change’s focus on electing Democrats in Virginia up and down the ballot.