New election poll released, students react

Max Walpole, Contributing Writer

Vice President Kamala Harris is ahead of former President Donald Trump in Virginia by 10 points, 46% to 36%, according to the latest Commonwealth Poll released by the VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs on Sept. 11.

Trump previously led President Joe Biden by three points, 39% to 36% in the Wilder School’s summer poll.

The poll reported that 81% of Democrats plan to vote for Kamala Harris, while 80% of Republicans plan to vote for Trump.

Independents favor Trump by 26% over Harris at 19%. Before Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropped out on Aug. 23, he had more support among independents than Trump, according to the poll.

Virginia voters of either party feel the increasing cost of living is the most important issue with 38% of respondents saying so, followed by reproductive rights at 21% and immigration at 10%.

Hannah Gill, a second-year psychology student, said she plans to “vote blue” in November. She said it will be her first time voting, and she was not surprised by the poll’s findings.

“Every person I’ve talked to — at least here — about voting has said that they will be voting blue,” Gill said.

Kaitlyn Cook, a second-year economics student, said she was not surprised that Harris is ahead in Virginia because she “better represents where the American people are right now.”

“I feel like Trump is really trying to go back, and Harris is going forward,” Cook said.

Joshua Larsen, a third-year film and photography student, said he is concerned about student loan debt and wants to vote Democrat in November.

“They typically are going to be the people that I’m going to agree with more — and I think they have a chance of actually making it into office,” Larsen said.

Jolene Lopez, a third-year English student, said her top issue is immigration and she wants to vote for whichever candidate will make that easier.

“My parents are immigrants, and then my dad is trying to become a U.S. citizen,” Lopez said. “So it is kind of tricky, because everything’s up in the air sometimes.”

Robyn McDougle, associate dean of research and outreach at the Wilder School, said the most notable change from the results of the summer poll is that an increasing number of Virginians now identify as independents.

McDougle said she believes the outcome of the race could depend on undecided independent voters.

“We’ve got 33% that are out there that are unhappy with any choice or haven’t decided yet,” McDougle said. “What will they do, and what will happen with those voters? And so fighting for those votes in Virginia and across the battleground states are really important.”

McDougle said the poll indicated support for Harris or Trump was split between genders.

“One of the things that we’re seeing in Virginia and across the country is younger women are excited about the vice president,” McDougle said. “And interestingly enough, younger men either are not excited about either candidate, are undecided or are excited about Trump.”

The Wilder School is currently conducting another poll to measure public opinion on the race after the debate, but McDougle said she thinks the debate will not change the minds of established Republican or Democrat voters.

“People who were going to vote for Vice President Harris are going to continue to vote for Vice President Harris. People who were going to vote for President Trump before that debate will probably continue to vote for President Trump,” McDougle said. “The question becomes, does that debate have any impact on those independents I was talking about?”

A spokesperson for the Harris campaign said the campaign does not comment on poll results during the election season. A spokesperson from Donald Trump’s campaign could not be reached via email by publication time.

Early voting has begun in Virginia. Eligible voters can cast a ballot at their registrar’s office until Nov. 2. Election Day is on Nov. 5.