Virginia Governor's Race Poll: Northam, Gillespie Neck-And-Neck

MCLEAN, VA—If Virginia's governor race were today, it would be a close call. Republican Ed Gillespie and Democrat Ralph Northam are running a tight race, according to a new Monmouth University poll. It shows Northam and Gillespie tied with 44 percent of likely Virginia voters supporting each. About 500 voters participated.

The race has been put into the national spotlight, as the Trump presidency and issues like health care reform have played into the state conversation. Trump's approval rating is 37 percent among Virginia voters.

The first gubernatorial debate Saturday in Hot Springs started off with questions about Trump, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Northam has continued criticism of Trump he took up during the primary, while Gillespie said he was open to working with Trump to keep the naval base in Norfolk, as well as other federal funding. But Northam also clarified he could work with the federal government on certain issues, while Gillespie maintains he doesn't agree with everything Trump says.

The new Monmouth poll showed 52 percent of Northam supporters think Trump is a factor in who they pick for governor. 32 percent of Gillespie supporters and 32 percent of undecided voters said the same. (Sign up for real time alerts and a newsletter. iPhone users can download the Patch app in the App Store.)

"A small but crucial portion of Northam's support is coming from voters who are primarily anti-Trump. Unless one of the candidates breaks out with a clear advantage on Virginia-centric issues, the president could wind up as a decisive factor in the outcome," Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said in a statement.

The first poll released after the June 13 primary showed Northam with an eight point lead over Gillespie. In both polls, health care and jobs have been either the top or one of the most pressing issues for voters. In the latest poll, 37 percent of voters say they want campaigns to address health care, with jobs following at 25 percent.

Favorability of the current governor, whom Northam serves as lieutenant governor, will also play in. Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe's approval rating is 52 percent, a difference from the 47 percent approval in the June 21 Quinnipiac poll.

Regional differences were also noted in the Monmouth poll. Northam leads Northern Virginia voters 50 percent to 37 percent, while Gillespie leads the central area 43 to 41 percent and the western half 52 to 34 percent.

Gillespie, who nearly defeated Sen. Mark Warner in a 2014 race, is the former Republican National Committee chairman. Northam is serving as lieutenant governor after entering the political realm as a state senator.

Virginia and New Jersey are the two states with governor's races in the year following the 2016 presidential election. The general election is Nov. 7.

See the full poll results here.

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