{"id":2395688,"date":"2025-01-27T14:48:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-27T19:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-turning-red-dead-heat-in-governors-race-and-youngkin-popularity-soars-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-27T14:50:15","modified_gmt":"2025-01-27T19:50:15","slug":"virginia-turning-red-dead-heat-in-governors-race-and-youngkin-popularity-soars-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-turning-red-dead-heat-in-governors-race-and-youngkin-popularity-soars-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Virginia turning red: Dead heat in governor\u2019s race, and Youngkin popularity soars &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fvirginia-turning-red-dead-heat-in-governors-race-and-youngkin-popularity-soars-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2395688&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bezos-owned-washington-post-endorses-terry-mcauliffe-over-two-qualified-black-women\/\" title=\"Bezos-Owned Washington Post Endorses Terry McAuliffe Over Two Qualified Black Women\">virginia governor&#8217;<\/a>s race has entered a highly competitive phase, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-donald-trump-says-joe-biden-is-not-too-old-to-be-president-will-age-become-a-factor\/\" title=\"Watch: Trump says Biden&#039;s age won&#039;t hinder his presidency - Will age matter?\">recent polling indicating<\/a> \u200ca dead heat \u2063between Republican Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears \u200dand former Democratic Representative abigail Spanberger, each \u200bgarnering 40% support. Lt. Governor Earle-Sears is benefiting from the popularity \u2063of current Governor Glenn Youngkin,who holds a 59%\u2064 approval rating,largely\u200c due \u200dto his\u2064 push for tax cuts,notably a proposed reduction of the car tax\u2014an issue that resonates strongly with Virginians. Youngkin&#8217;s policies \u2063and approval are expected to\u2063 aid Earle-Sears in her campaign, as many voters express a desire \u200bfor continuity in\u200d the policies he has implemented. The\u200d race \u200dis framed within the context of Virginia&#8217;s unique electoral calendar,with major elections occurring in odd-numbered years.\u2064 As both candidates prepare for the upcoming campaign, tax relief appears\u2062 to be a pivotal issue \u2062that could\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">influence voter decision-making<\/a> in\u200c November.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Virginia turning red: Dead heat in governor&rsquo;s race, and Youngkin popularity soars<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1955176\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>This year&rsquo;s race for Virginia governor has moved into a dead heat, and Lt. Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/winsome-sears\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Winsome Earle-Sears<\/a>&lsquo;s lead among <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cook-political-report-georgia-governors-race-shifts-from-toss-up-to-lean-republican\/\" title=\"Cook Political Report: Georgia Governor&#039;s Race Shifts From &quot;Toss Up&quot; to &quot;Lean Republican&quot;\">key voter groups<\/a> and Gov. Glenn Youngkin&rsquo;s (R-VA) strong approval record and push to cut taxes could give the GOP back-to-back wins.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>For months, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/3289529\/trump-youngkin-poised-to-give-virginia-its-first-woman-governor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">race has been close<\/a>, with former Democratic Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3273902\/virginia-gubernatorial-contender-spanberger-speaks-about-chaos-of-congress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Abigail Spanberger<\/a> with a slight lead. But a new survey shared with Secrets on Monday showed that Earle-Sears has caught up.<\/p>\n<p>The poll sponsored by the <a href=\"https:\/\/files.constantcontact.com\/952ebce2701\/00a06b62-1cb5-419b-9daa-7bf26a0f99c7.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Northern Virginia Republican Business Forum<\/a> showed support for both candidates at 40%, though the race is just beginning.<\/p>\n<p>Virginia holds its big political elections in the off-year, a year after the presidential election. The commonwealth bars governors from serving back-to-back terms, effectively limiting them to one four-year term.<\/p>\n<p>Earle-Sears and Spanberger have made no secret of their plans to run for the top spot, and Republicans and Democrats appear eager and ready to give them a clear path to the nomination.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Recent surveys have shown that the gubernatorial race has been close for months and that Youngkin and President Donald Trump could play an outsize role.<\/p>\n<p>In a big plus for Earle-Sears, Youngkin has a 59% approval rating in the new poll, near his all-time high. He has consistently shown in polls to be a governor voters like.<\/p>\n<p>His policies, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vpm.org\/news\/2024-12-18\/glenn-youngkin-tax-relief-budget-amendments-virginia-general-assembly-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">especially cutting taxes<\/a>, are also popular in the commonwealth, and Earle-Sears&rsquo;s popularity is higher due to her support for them.<\/p>\n<p>For example, Youngkin has proposed cutting the car tax, an issue Virginians are very familiar with.<\/p>\n<p>The survey said 75% support his &ldquo;working-class car tax credit plan to provide additional car tax relief to 2.4 million Virginians.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>And, the survey added, half support it even after hearing about a Democratic alternative in a one<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gov-glenn-youngkin-calls-special-session-to-finalize-virginia-budget\/\" title=\"Gov. Youngkin summons special session to complete Virginia budget.\">-time tax rebate<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Among voters who support cutting taxes as Youngkin has proposed, Earle-Sears leads 49%-32%.<\/p>\n<p>A key Virginia Republican consultant told Secrets, &ldquo;Voters are telling us that they like what he&rsquo;s done and they want more of it, and Winsome Earle-Sears is going to benefit from that because, as the governor has said, she has been a steadfast governing partner this entire time. They ran together in 2021. They&rsquo;ve governed together ever since, and the policies that are working for Virginians are as much her responsibility as they are his.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SEE THE LATEST POLITICAL NEWS AND BUZZ FROM WASHINGTON SECRETS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What&rsquo;s more, the consultant said, the poll suggests that taxes can and will be a driving issue in the November election, especially the proposal to cut the car tax, an issue that helped former Republican Gov. Jim Gilmore win in 1997 by a huge 13-point margin.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s common sense,&rdquo; the consultant said, adding, &ldquo;If you&rsquo;re a Virginian and you own a car, you know that this is the most hated tax that you have. And you have one party saying we should provide your release from that car tax. And you have another party saying Virginians don&rsquo;t really need it, and they kind of poo-poo it actually. They should have to answer for that. And we are very confident that our position on this issue aligns with the voters in Virginia. And Democrats are going to have to answer to that when they go to the ballot box next November.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1955176\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1955176\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Virginia&#8217;s governor race is tight, with Earle-Sears gaining ground<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2647,"featured_media":2395689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/winsome-earle-sears-virginia.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[6571,39547,5894,5468,15109],"class_list":["post-2395688","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-elections","tag-governors-race","tag-politics","tag-virginia","tag-youngkin"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/winsome-earle-sears-virginia.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395688","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2647"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2395688"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395688\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2395692,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2395688\/revisions\/2395692"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2395689"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2395688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2395688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2395688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}