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Governors

Virginia Voters Prioritize Cost of Living, Reproductive Rights, and Immigration Ahead of 2025 Gubernatorial Election

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As Virginia heads into the 2025 governor's race, voters are heavily focused on three major issues: the cost of living, reproductive rights, and immigration. In a recent poll by the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Wilder School, 29% of respondents cited cost of living as their most important voter issue, followed by immigration (14%) and abortion (14%). This shift in priorities is notable compared to the last gubernatorial election in 2021, where the top issues for voters were the economy, health care, racial inequity, and public education.

Key Takeaways:

  • The cost of living is the top concern for 29% of Virginia voters, followed by immigration (14%) and abortion (14%), according to a VCU Wilder School poll.
  • The same poll showed a significant shift in priorities compared to the 2021 gubernatorial election, where the top issues were the economy, health care, racial inequity, and public education.
  • Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears has pledged to reduce the cost of living through tax relief and cutting "wasteful government spending."
  • Democrat Abigail Spanberger's "Affordable Virginia" plan aims to lower healthcare and energy costs, increase housing supply, and cut construction red tape.
  • Earle-Sears has pledged to crack down on illegal immigration and use state police and the National Guard to detain immigrants.
  • Spanberger has criticized using local police for immigration enforcement and supports deporting people without legal status who have been convicted of a crime.
  • Earle-Sears has rarely mentioned abortion on the campaign trail and declined to say if she'd restrict abortion access as governor.
  • Spanberger has expressed support for codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law and defending abortion rights in Virginia.

Statistics:

  • 29% of Virginia voters cited cost of living as their most important voter issue, according to the VCU Wilder School poll.
  • 14% of respondents cited immigration as their top issue, tied with abortion.
  • In the 2021 gubernatorial election, the top issues for voters were the economy (59%), health care, racial inequity, and public education.
  • 15 weeks is the proposed ban on abortion supported by Earle-Sears.
  • Spanberger voted to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law while in Congress.

Sources:

  • VCU Wilder School poll: https://wilder.vcu.edu/news-and-events/news-posts/commonwealth-poll-virginians-overwhelmingly-concerned-about-cost-of-living.html
  • Winsome Earle-Sears' campaign website: https://winsomeforgovernor.com/learn-more/
  • Abigail Spanberger's campaign website: https://abigailspanberger.com/issue/abigails-affordable-virginia-plan/
  • Axios article on Virginia governor's race: https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/04/08/virginia-first-woman-governor-2025

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