August 9, 2017 - Democrat Holds 6-Point Lead In Virginia Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Want Democrats To Control State Legislature

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Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam holds a 44 - 38 percent lead over Republican Ed Gillespie in the Virginia governor's race, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Libertarian Party candidate Cliff Hyra has 4 percent.





Northam had a 47 - 39 percent lead over Gillespie in a June 21 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. This earlier survey did not include a third party candidate.





Independent voters back the Republican 39 - 30 percent, with 8 percent for Hyra. Democrats back Northam 89 - 5 percent, with 1 percent for Hyra, as Republicans back Gillespie 89 - 1 percent, with 3 percent for Hyra.





Northam leads 51 - 33 percent among women, 48 - 39 percent among white college educated voters and 56 - 21 percent among non-white voters.





Gillespie leads 44 - 35 percent among men, 54 - 28 percent among white voters with no college degree and 47 - 38 percent among all white voters.





"The Virginia Governor's race leans toward Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, but not overly so," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.





"With three months until Election Day, the race remains competitive.





"Former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie apparently has been able to convince many voters that he is his own man. Gillespie is within six percentage points of Northam despite President Donald Trump's unpopularity in the Old Dominion.





"Libertarian Cliff Hyra is getting 4 percent of the vote. Given Northam's 6-point lead, Hyra could become a factor in the race."





Health care is the most important issue in deciding how they will vote in the governor's race, 36 percent of Virginia voters say, while 25 percent list the economy and 16 percent cite education.





Virginia voters say 44 - 34 percent that Northam would do a better job handling health care. Comparing the candidates on other issues, voters say:

41 - 38 percent that Gillespie would do a better job on the economy;

42 - 35 percent that Northam would do a better job on education;

Split 38 - 38 percent on who would do a better job on immigration;

41 - 37 percent that Gillespie would do a better job on taxes.

Virginia voters give Northam a 35 - 18 percent favorability rating, with 45 percent who haven't heard enough about him to form an opinion of him.





Gillespie gets a 38 - 27 percent favorability rating, with 34 percent who haven't heard enough to form an opinion.





For Hyra, 87 percent haven't heard enough to form an opinion.





Virginia voters say 49 - 38 percent that they would like to see the Democrats in control of the State Legislature. Independent voters are divided 38 - 38 percent on who should control the State Legislature.





President Trump's Approval





Virginia voters disapprove 61 - 36 percent of the job President Donald Trump is doing. Republicans approve 82 - 14 percent and white voters with no college degree approve 56 - 42 percent. Every other party, gender, education, age and racial group disapproves.





Voters approve 51 - 35 percent of the job Gov. Terry McAuliffe is doing, up from 47 - 37 percent June 21.





U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine gets a 54 - 38 percent approval rating and Virginia voters say 50 - 40 percent that he deserves to be reelected.





U.S. Sen. Mark Warner gets a 59 - 30 percent job approval rating.





From August 3 - 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,082 Virginia voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percentage points, including the design effect. Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.





The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys nationwide, and in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa and Colorado as a public service and for research.





Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.





1. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were Ralph Northam the Democrat, Ed Gillespie the Republican, and Cliff Hyra the Libertarian, for whom would you vote?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Northam 44% 1% 89% 30% 35% 51% 48% 28% Gillespie 38 89 5 39 44 33 39 54 Hyra 4 3 1 8 5 3 3 3 SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - - 1 1 - 1 1 WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 1 - 5 2 2 1 1 DK/NA 11 5 5 18 12 10 7 11 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Northam 46% 46% 45% 40% 34% 42% 38% 56% Gillespie 28 38 43 45 48 46 47 21 Hyra 8 3 3 2 3 3 3 6 SMONE ELSE(VOL) - 1 1 - 2 - 1 - WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) 2 4 1 1 2 1 1 4 DK/NA 16 7 8 12 11 8 9 13

2. Is your opinion of Ralph Northam favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 35% 5% 68% 26% 30% 40% 43% 25% Unfavorable 18 36 2 23 24 13 20 24 Hvn't hrd enough 45 55 30 50 44 46 36 49 REFUSED 2 4 - 2 2 1 1 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Favorable 35% 34% 34% 40% 29% 39% 34% 39% Unfavorable 12 21 22 19 26 18 22 11 Hvn't hrd enough 49 44 44 39 43 42 43 49 REFUSED 4 1 1 2 1 2 1 2

3. Is your opinion of Ed Gillespie favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 38% 70% 12% 43% 42% 34% 38% 45% Unfavorable 27 5 50 21 29 25 38 19 Hvn't hrd enough 34 24 36 34 27 40 22 35 REFUSED 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Favorable 27% 37% 42% 45% 44% 40% 42% 29% Unfavorable 28 27 28 26 30 26 28 25 Hvn't hrd enough 43 35 30 27 24 32 28 44 REFUSED 3 1 - 2 2 1 2 1

4. Is your opinion of Cliff Hyra favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about him?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 4% 4% 2% 7% 5% 3% 3% 4% Unfavorable 8 8 9 8 11 5 7 9 Hvn't hrd enough 87 87 89 85 83 91 89 86 REFUSED 1 2 - - 1 - 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Favorable 9% 2% 3% 5% 4% 4% 4% 5% Unfavorable 12 10 7 6 10 7 8 8 Hvn't hrd enough 78 87 90 88 86 89 87 87 REFUSED 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 -

5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Terry McAuliffe is handling his job as Governor?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 51% 16% 81% 46% 49% 53% 56% 37% Disapprove 35 72 7 37 41 29 35 46 DK/NA 14 12 12 17 11 17 9 18 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Approve 53% 50% 53% 49% 45% 47% 46% 64% Disapprove 26 35 38 40 45 37 40 20 DK/NA 21 15 9 12 10 16 13 16

6. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its job?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 42% 43% 42% 45% 40% 44% 40% 40% Disapprove 38 33 42 35 40 35 44 34 DK/NA 21 24 16 20 20 21 16 26 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Approve 48% 39% 42% 42% 39% 42% 40% 47% Disapprove 32 41 40 35 42 36 39 35 DK/NA 20 21 18 23 20 22 21 18

7. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mark Warner is handling his job as United States Senator?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 59% 26% 86% 57% 55% 63% 63% 47% Disapprove 30 62 7 31 36 24 31 40 DK/NA 11 12 7 12 9 12 7 14 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Approve 59% 61% 58% 60% 53% 56% 55% 71% Disapprove 22 31 34 33 40 31 35 18 DK/NA 19 8 8 7 7 13 10 11

8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tim Kaine is handling his job as United States Senator?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 54% 16% 88% 49% 49% 59% 59% 38% Disapprove 38 76 8 43 44 32 38 52 DK/NA 8 9 4 8 7 9 4 11 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Approve 60% 53% 56% 51% 45% 51% 48% 70% Disapprove 31 41 39 41 50 40 45 22 DK/NA 9 7 4 8 6 9 7 7

9. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 36% 82% 2% 38% 40% 32% 34% 56% Disapprove 61 14 97 57 57 64 63 42 DK/NA 4 4 1 5 3 4 3 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Approve 27% 35% 39% 43% 47% 43% 45% 15% Disapprove 70 62 58 54 51 54 52 80 DK/NA 3 3 3 3 2 3 3 5

10. Do you feel that Tim Kaine deserves to be reelected, or do you feel that he does not deserve to be reelected?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes/Deserves 50% 12% 85% 42% 46% 53% 55% 34% No/Does not 40 78 7 48 46 34 38 55 DK/NA 10 10 7 10 8 12 7 12 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Yes/Deserves 55% 50% 50% 48% 41% 48% 44% 64% No/Does not 34 40 42 43 51 41 46 25 DK/NA 11 11 8 9 8 11 9 11

11. Would you like to see the Democrats or the Republicans control the Virginia state legislature?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Democrats 49% 1% 94% 38% 41% 56% 50% 32% Republicans 38 94 1 38 43 33 40 54 DK/NA 14 6 5 23 16 11 10 13 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Democrats 59% 47% 46% 46% 35% 47% 41% 67% Republicans 29 36 42 44 50 45 48 18 DK/NA 12 16 12 10 15 8 11 15

12. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Virginia today; are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Very satisfied 8% 5% 10% 8% 6% 9% 7% 7% Smwht satisfied 58 46 70 57 58 57 62 52 Smwht dissatisfied 25 36 15 27 27 24 24 29 Very dissatisfied 8 13 4 8 8 8 5 10 DK/NA 2 1 1 - 1 2 1 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Very satisfied 6% 10% 6% 7% 6% 8% 7% 10% Smwht satisfied 68 55 54 57 55 58 57 59 Smwht dissatisfied 24 22 30 25 29 25 27 22 Very dissatisfied - 12 10 7 8 7 8 8 DK/NA 2 1 - 3 2 2 2 1

13. Which of these is the most important issue to you in deciding how to vote for governor this year: taxes, the economy, education, health care, or immigration?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Taxes 11% 18% 5% 13% 12% 11% 13% 10% Economy 25 34 15 28 30 21 24 28 Education 16 8 21 19 17 16 17 13 Health care 36 19 56 30 31 41 34 36 Immigration 8 17 2 7 6 9 9 10 SOMETHING ELSE(VOL) 2 2 1 2 2 1 2 1 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 2 1 1 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Taxes 11% 12% 15% 8% 13% 10% 11% 12% Economy 23 23 28 25 29 22 26 23 Education 24 23 11 11 14 16 15 18 Health care 37 34 34 41 32 37 35 40 Immigration 5 5 9 11 8 11 9 4 SOMETHING ELSE(VOL) - 3 2 1 2 1 2 2 DK/NA - 1 1 4 1 2 2 1

14. Regardless of who you may support, who do you think would do a better job handling - taxes: Ralph Northam or Ed Gillespie?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Northam 37% 5% 72% 26% 34% 40% 41% 26% Gillespie 41 83 12 43 46 37 46 52 DK/NA 21 12 16 30 20 23 14 23 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Northam 44% 35% 36% 37% 32% 34% 33% 46% Gillespie 31 43 47 46 50 47 49 26 DK/NA 25 22 18 17 18 18 18 27

15. Regardless of who you may support, who do you think would do a better job handling - the economy: Ralph Northam or Ed Gillespie?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Northam 38% 5% 72% 29% 34% 42% 41% 26% Gillespie 41 82 12 44 45 38 43 53 DK/NA 20 12 16 27 21 20 16 21 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Northam 46% 37% 36% 36% 32% 35% 33% 49% Gillespie 31 43 47 46 49 48 48 27 DK/NA 23 20 18 18 19 17 18 24

16. Regardless of who you may support, who do you think would do a better job handling - education: Ralph Northam or Ed Gillespie?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Northam 42% 7% 75% 36% 41% 43% 49% 28% Gillespie 35 77 10 35 35 36 33 48 DK/NA 22 16 15 29 24 21 18 23 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Northam 48% 44% 40% 40% 38% 39% 39% 51% Gillespie 26 36 42 41 38 43 41 25 DK/NA 27 21 18 19 24 17 21 24

17. Regardless of who you may support, who do you think would do a better job handling - health care: Ralph Northam or Ed Gillespie?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Northam 44% 9% 76% 38% 41% 47% 49% 30% Gillespie 34 74 9 32 35 32 33 45 DK/NA 22 16 14 29 24 21 18 25 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Northam 55% 43% 40% 42% 37% 42% 39% 53% Gillespie 20 34 41 40 39 39 39 23 DK/NA 25 23 20 18 24 20 22 23

18. Regardless of who you may support, who do you think would do a better job handling - immigration: Ralph Northam or Ed Gillespie?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Northam 38% 7% 71% 29% 37% 40% 44% 25% Gillespie 38 78 13 39 41 36 38 51 DK/NA 23 16 17 32 23 24 18 24 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Northam 46% 34% 39% 36% 33% 35% 34% 47% Gillespie 30 41 40 44 44 45 45 25 DK/NA 24 25 21 20 23 20 21 27

19. If a candidate for governor supports President Trump, does that make you: more likely to vote for them, less likely to vote for them, or doesn't it have an impact either way?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No More likely 21% 52% 2% 18% 22% 19% 21% 33% Less likely 48 7 84 40 42 52 52 34 No impact 31 40 15 41 35 28 27 32 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 - 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht More likely 11% 18% 27% 27% 27% 27% 27% 7% Less likely 52 48 49 42 41 44 43 60 No impact 38 34 23 30 31 29 30 32 DK/NA - - 1 1 1 - 1 1

20. Would you describe the state of Virginia's economy these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Excellent 7% 6% 8% 8% 9% 5% 12% 4% Good 65 57 72 67 69 62 70 61 Not so good 21 28 18 18 16 26 13 27 Poor 6 7 2 7 5 6 4 6 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Excellent 9% 7% 5% 8% 10% 6% 8% 6% Good 71 65 64 62 68 64 66 63 Not so good 14 23 22 23 16 24 20 23 Poor 5 4 9 6 5 4 5 7 DK/NA 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 -

21. Do you think Virginia's economy is getting better, getting worse, or staying about the same?

WHITE...... COLLEGE DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Better 28% 25% 31% 28% 33% 23% 33% 25% Worse 10 9 6 12 11 9 7 11 The same 61 64 61 58 55 66 59 60 DK/NA 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 3 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... Non- 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Wht Better 37% 26% 25% 26% 35% 24% 29% 26% Worse 9 9 11 9 11 7 9 10 The same 53 63 63 61 53 66 60 62 DK/NA 2 1 1 4 1 3 2 2

22. Would you describe your financial situation these days as excellent, good, not so good, or poor?