The race for the Virginia Governor’s mansion remains close going into the final stretch, Nov. 2nd. For Democrats, this election is a testing ground of President Joe Biden’s influence and approval ahead of the 2022 midterm elections in a key blue state that he won by double digits.
Recent polls show the battle between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin is in a dead heat—much closer than Democrats would hope after winning the White House last year. President Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in Virginia by nearly 10 percentage points in 2020. Democrats have also mustered gubernatorial wins in the last two elections cycles– including McAuliffe winning the 2013 governor’s race.
The President’s dropping approval numbers may not be a good sign for Democrats going into Virginia’s General Election and with an eager GOP looking to snatch control of the House and Senate.
The president approval rating has been on a decline since July during the height of the Delta variant. With much of President Biden’s agenda stalled in Congress, FiveThirtyEight’s shows the President’s approval rating sitting at 43.6 percent as of Oct.27. And, Biden’s disapproval reached a new high with 50.8 percent displeased with the President’s work.
It’s unsure how the Presidential politics will spew into the Virginia state races, but a win for Republicans would serve as a momentum boost for a GOP that hasn’t won a statewide election in nearly a decade.
Liberation candidate Princess L. Blanding will also appear on the governor’s ballot. Voters will also cast votes for lieutenant governor, attorney general, house of delegates, and several local offices in the state.
Early voting lasts until the Saturday before election day, Oct. 30. The General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 2.
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