New polling shows Spanberger, Hashmi and Jones all leading VA statewide races

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- New polling from VCU’s Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs is providing a snapshot of where things stand in Virginia’s statewide races.

In the race for governor, Democrat Abigail Spanberger leads Republican Winsome Earle-Sears 49%-40%. 

“The returns at the gubernatorial level have been remarkably steady. If you look across the polls, you have a few outliers in each direction, but you do polling averages -- you look at them as a whole -- Spanberger has a comfortable lead,” Larry Sabato, Director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, told 8News. 

In the race for lieutenant governor, Democrat Ghazala Hashmi leads Republican John Reid 45%-41%. 

Meanwhile, Democrat Jay Jones leads Republican incumbent Jason Miyares 47%-41% in the race for attorney general. 

“The lieutenant governor, attorney general contest, I don’t even pay attention to,” said Sabato, referring to polling. “When people vote in this hyper-partisan era, they’re gonna be looking at their ballot, they vote for governor, and nine times out of ten, they’re going to stick with the party label in the other races they vote for."

Sabato said, although the margins are tighter than in the previous VCU poll, Republicans shouldn’t celebrate all that much. 

“Now I think they’re moving up past their floor, but not much past their floor -- not yet anyway,” Sabato told 8News. 

Early voting begins on Sept. 19 at your local registrar’s office.