Last year, Morrissey served a jail sentence for contributing to the delinquency of a minor while serving in the House of Delegates. He is deeply polarizing, the poll found: Of respondents, 40 percent said they had a favorable opinion of him, and 44 percent said they had an unfavorable opinion.

Mosby is the only other candidate whose unfavorability ratings approached Morrissey’s. Of respondents, 25 percent had a favorable view of her, and 28 percent had an unfavorable view.

Mosby picked up the bulk of her support in the city’s 9th District, which she represents. Morrissey, however, also performed well in the district and the two candidates are well within the margin of error of one another.

Holsworth said that highlights her potential as a spoiler against Morrissey winning five districts on election day.

“For the anti-Morrissey movement to succeed, it may well need Michelle Mosby to carry her home district and for the anti-Morrissey forces in the 3rd District to coalesce behind a single candidate. The latter is quite a challenge, because each candidate hoping to be in a runoff will also need every possible vote.”