In New Poll, Race for Virginia Governor Is Tightening

One week from Election Day, Democrat Ralph Northam’s lead has narrowed to five percentage points in the Virginia governor’s race, with Republican Ed Gillespie closing a motivation gap and consolidating support among conservatives and supporters of President Trump, a new Washington Post-Schar School poll finds.

Northam, the state’s lieutenant governor, leads among likely voters 49 percent to Gillespie’s 44 percent, a margin that is not statistically significant. The Democrat was up by 13 points in a Post poll earlier this month. Libertarian Cliff Hyra is at 4 percent, enough to play spoiler if the race remains tight through Tuesday.

Democrats have at least a slight edge in two down-ballot contests, with incumbent Attorney General Mark Herring (D) holding a 49 percent to 43 percent lead against Republican challenger John Adams. In the lieutenant governor’s race, Democrat Justin Fairfax has a narrow lead over Republican Jill Holtzman Vogel, 49 percent to 43 percent. Vogel would be the first woman to hold the seat, Fairfax the second African American.