VCU school polls on Youngkin and General Assembly, Roe v. Wade to be an important issue

Diana Ho, Contributing Writer

The VCU Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs conducted a poll on Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s approval rating, the General Assembly, and current Virginia issues from Dec. 3 to Dec. 16, according to the press release from the Wilder School. 

The poll found 52% of respondents approve of Youngkin, and 53% of respondents support his involvement in issues of education, crime and inflation, according to the press release. 

Brittany Keegan, director of research and outreach for the Wilder School, said 32% of participants talk about inflation as the primary issue, while 14% identified abortion and Roe v. Wade as the primary issue.

807 Virginia adults were interviewed through landline and cellphone, according to the methodology of the poll.

The population of the poll is weighted to reflect of the general population of Virginia, Keegan said. 

64% of the respondents were white, 27% were aged 65 and older, and 26% had a bachelor’s degree, according to the press release. 

“We use a company called Responsive Management. They’re the ones who are actually making the phone calls for us,” said Keegan. “We use the outside company since it is more efficient, more cost effective.”

The Wilder School asks similar questions from year to year in order to maintain a trendline, Keegan said.

“We also look at what are the main issues right now. So Roe v. Wade is, of course, a really big issue that should be included. Inflation is another big policy issue for Virginia,” Keegan said.

Youngkin asked the General Assembly on Jan. 11 to “protect life at 15 weeks,” during his annual State of the Commonwealth. 

Del. Kathy J. Byron, R-22nd, introduced House Bill 2278 to the General Assembly on Jan. 11, which makes abortions after 15 weeks a Class 4 felony.

The bill is also known as the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act which states exceptions to the felony would be death, serious injury of the mother, rape or incest, according to the Virginia Legislative Information System. 

Class 4 felony is a term of imprisonment between two to 10 years, subject to subdivision, and a fine of up to $100,000, according to LIS. 

“2023 is going to be all about Roe v. Wade,” stated VCU political science professor David Kerr. “With the governor eyeing a ban on abortion after 15 weeks, I think this issue is going to rise in importance.”

As the session progresses and Republicans emphasize abortion, the more likely abortion-rights voters are to vote, according to Kerr.

Steele Crowe, junior political science and homeland security student, voted for former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in 2021. 

“When I was voting, I definitely looked into both candidates and a lot of my voting goes based on my social beliefs,” Crowe said. “At that time, abortion, gay marriage, COVID are all big social topics — and he [Youngkin] didn’t really align with my beliefs on any of them.”

Crowe said after former President Donald Trump left office in 2020, there’s not as much tension and people do not have a lot of reasons to disapprove of Youngkin. 

“I think abortion has been a huge topic in most state legislatures and I would be surprised if it wasn’t a big topic,” Crowe said.

William Faber, president of student organization College Republicans at VCU and a senior political science and homeland security, voted for Youngkin in 2021.

Faber said Youngkin represented his beliefs, especially in the education system.

“As far as abortion goes, he [Youngkin] is more of a common sense type of person where he believes it shouldn’t be fully illegal, but he doesn’t believe it should be fully legal,” Faber said.

VCU political science professor Amanda Wintersieck said survey polling and research can allow us to gauge the attitudes of the public at any given time. It can be useful in informing those who govern about what the will of the people is, according to Wintersieck.

“I would note that there’s really no questions specific to abortion — there’s a couple of broad questions about whether or not abortion should be a priority on the legislative agenda — but not about people’s attitudes about abortion,” Wintersieck said. 

The poll mentions “Roe v. Wade” or “abortion” four times total in its questions to respondents. 

Wintersieck said because abortion is an important issue in light of Youngkin’s announcement, survey questions should specifically ask respondents if abortion is a priority. 

Both professors Kerr and Wintersieck emphasize Roe v. Wade and abortion will be a key issue in 2023 for both Youngkin and the General Assembly.

Kerr stated 2023 will mostly be about abortion, but the Republican nomination may also play a role as well.

“If come November, Donald Trump is still popular with the GOP base and is considered a viable candidate, that’s something that could hurt the GOP in the 2023 House and Senate elections,” Kerr stated.