"Threats to democracy" now a top issue in Virginia governor's race
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"Threats to democracy" has emerged as a top voter issue in the Virginia governor's race ahead of early voting on Friday, per recent polling.
Why it matters: Part of the poll was conducted during and immediately after Charlie Kirk's killing, which researchers say could signal how quickly voter priorities can shift in response to national events.
The big picture: Christopher Newport University's Wason Center poll, released Thursday, shows that the rising cost of living continues to dominate as the No. 1 voter issue in Virginia at 21%, mirroring multiple VCU Wilder School polls this past year.
- Threats to democracy came in second at 18% in the Wason Center poll — a striking contrast with the Wilder poll earlier this month, where zero respondents picked "maintaining democracy and civility."
- K-12 education, immigration and crime were tied at 9% in the Wason Center poll.
Zoom in: The Wason Center polled 808 registered Virginia voters from Sept. 8 to 14. Kirk was killed Sept. 10.
- The timing likely makes "threats to democracy" a "more heightened issue for folks," Rebecca Bromley-Trujillo, the Wason Center's research lab director, said in a briefing Thursday.
- "I am curious to see in the next poll if that holds, because yes, I absolutely believe that would play a role."
The intrigue: How voters ranked "threats to democracy" depended on political affiliation, per the poll.
By the numbers: Nearly a third of Democrats and 17% of independents said it was their top issue, compared with 5% of Republicans.
- Republicans named immigration and crime as major issues (both 18%). Less than 3% of Democrats named immigration or crime a major issue.
- Health care and K-12 education were tied at 12% for Democrats, compared with 4% and 7%, respectively, for Republicans.
What we're watching: Whether democracy remains a defining concern with early voting underway or fades as other issues reassert themselves.
Methodology: Wason Center researchers polled voters by phone. The margin of error is ±3.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.