As Democrats prepare to take control of both houses of the General Assembly in January along with the three major statewide offices they currently hold, The Roanoke College Poll has found support for several of their agenda items. The Institute for Policy and Opinion Research interviewed 609 Virginia residents between Nov. 10 and Nov. 20 and has a margin of error of + 4 percent.

Support for various Democratic initiatives ranged from 84 percent for universal background checks for all firearm purchases to 38 percent for amending Virginia’s Right-to-Work laws. The latter was the only proposal that was not supported by a majority of respondents.

Issue Favor Oppose Universal background checks for firearm purchase 84% 10% Red flag law (family member) 76% 14% Pass Equal Rights Amendment 73% 10% Regulations that may slow effects of climate change 68% 15% Raise minimum wage to $15 over several years 66% 24% Reduce prison population and prison racial disparities 59% 16% Assault weapons ban 57% 30% Make it easier for a woman to obtain an abortion 53% 30% Require workers to pay dues in unionized workplace 38% 43%

President Trump, Direction of the Country, and Governor Northam

A majority of Virginians (51%) disapprove of the way President Trump his handling his job, and just under one-third (32%) approve. Public impeachment hearings began on the third day of the poll.

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents think the country is on the wrong track, while 26 percent think it is headed in the right direction. President Trump’s approval is up slightly since August, while those saying the country is heading in the right direction is the lowest it has been in two years. Approval for Virginia Governor Ralph Northam declined slightly to 35 percent. Given their support for various gun measures noted above, it is interesting that Virginians are more likely to say it is important to protect the right of Americans to own guns (47%) than to control gun ownership (43%).

Political anxiety

IPOR continues to track political anxiety in the Commonwealth. More than eight in ten (81%) of Virginians trust the federal government to do what is right only some of the time or never. However, a majority (58%) thinks that ordinary citizens can do a lot to influence the federal government. A plurality (43%) thinks their side is losing more than winning in politics today.

Most respondents (55%) think the country’s best years are ahead of it, while one-third (32%) think its best years have passed. Overall, a large majority of Virginians (90%) continues to see the nation divided regarding the important issues facing the U.S.

Half of respondents (50%) are dissatisfied with how the federal government is (or isn’t) working. Another 19 percent are angry, while only 21 percent are satisfied, and three percent are enthusiastic. Each of these measures remain relatively constant over time, but responses of subgroups vary.