Multiple times a year, our statewide Wilder School Commonwealth Poll provides policymakers with an up-to-date snapshot of public opinion on current policy issues in the commonwealth. On this page you'll find information about recent poll highlights, as well as poll data organized by topic and by date.
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Spanberger maintains lead in race for governor
Poll Highlights
Our most recent poll was conducted from August 18 to 28, 2025, with results released in September 2025. The poll asked Virginians for their perspectives on:
- The Virginia gubernatorial election
- The Virginia lieutenant governor election
- The Virginia attorney general election
- Top issues for voters
Virginians share their perspectives on key issues
49%
plan to vote for Spanberger
40%
plan to vote for Earle-Sears
45%
plan to vote for Hashmi
47%
plan to vote for Jones
The latest Wilder School Poll results reveal just how these races have become more competitive. In the contest for lieutenant governor, Senator Ghazala Hashmi holds only a narrow lead over John Reid (45%-41%), despite Governor Youngkin's unprecedented demand that Reid not run for the seat. That speaks volumes about the limits of Youngkin's influence. The governor's race tells a similar story: Abigail Spanberger leads Winsome Earle-Sears 49% to 40%, suggesting that Youngkin's endorsement is likewise not carrying the weight he might have expected. Even Attorney General Jason Miyares, closely tied to this administration, trails former Delegate Jay Jones, 47% to 41%.
Governor L. Douglas Wilder
66th Governor of Virginia
We are proud to have the Wilder School’s Commonwealth Poll selected as a Presidential Election Poll by CNN Politics for the first time in VCU’s history. Selection as a CNN-approved poll solidifies the Commonwealth Poll among the top polling operations in the nation while elevating the voice of Virginians.
Methodology
Our most recent poll was conducted from August 18 to 28, 2025, with results released in September 2025. The methodology is as follows:
- 804 adult Virginians surveyed
- Phone survey (Landlines/Cell) – dual sample design on listed landline numbers and random digit dialed (RDD) cell phone numbers
- Sample weighted by demographics: gender, age, education, race, Hispanic origin, and region
- Overall margin of error: +/- 4.10 percentage points
References
For more information about the results, questions, and data, visit the links below:
- September 9, 2025: Spanberger maintains lead in race for governor
For a comprehensive list of past poll questions, visit our Poll Guidebook.