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Republican Ed Gillespie has an early edge in the 2017 contest for governor, but many voters know too little about the candidates to offer an opinion, according to a new University of Mary Washington survey.

In the four-way battle for the GOP nomination, 40 percent do not have a preference, according to a University of Mary Washington survey.

Among those with a preference, 19 percent favored Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee chairman who nearly knocked off Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. in 2014.

Eleven percent backed state Sen. Frank W. Wagner, R-Va. Beach; 8 percent supported Rep. Robert J. Wittman, R-1st and 6 percent backed Corey Stewart, the chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors who is chairman of Donald Trump’s Virginia campaign.

“Gillespie ran a statewide race two years ago, so right now he is somewhat better known around the state,” said Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science at UMW and director of the University Center for Leadership and Media Studies, which sponsored the survey.

The candidates for governor in both major parties remain largely unknown quantities to the electorate.