Peter A. Brown, Assistant Director
(203) 535-6203
Rubenstein
Pat Smith (212) 843-8026
FOR RELEASE: APRIL 11, 2017
DEMS HOLD DOUBLE-DIGIT LEAD IN VIRGINIA GOV RACE,
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS;
KAINE HAS BIG LEAD IN EARLY LOOK AT 2018 SENATE RACE
Virginia Democrats are locked in a tight primary in this year’s governor’s race, but either
contender tops the lead Republican, former GOP National Committee Chair Ed Gillespie, by
double digits, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
In the Democratic primary for governor, former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello has 25 percent
to Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam’s 20 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack)
University Poll finds. Another 51 percent are undecided.
Gillespie leads the Republican primary with 28 percent, followed by Prince William
County Supervisors Chair Corey Stewart at 12 percent, State Sen. Frank Wagner with 7 percent
and 51 percent undecided.
In possible general election matchups:


Perriello tops Gillespie 46 – 33 percent;
Northam leads Gillespie 44 – 33 percent.
Margins are similar in other possible matchups.
None of the candidates is well known, as the number of Virginia voters who don’t know
enough about the candidates to form an opinion of them ranges from 49 percent for Gillespie to
77 percent for Wagner.
“Two months before Virginia Democrats and Republicans pick their candidates for
governor, the heavy front-runner in each primary is ‘undecided,’” said Peter A. Brown, assistant
director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.
“Although the race for the Republican nomination is far from over, former Republican
National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie is solidly ahead among those who name a candidate.
“Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam originally had been expected to coast to the nomination, but
former Congressman Tom Perriello is inching ahead.”
-more-
Quinnipiac University Poll/April 11, 2017 – page 2
“Seven months before the November election, the early signs are very positive for the
Democrats. Both Democrats have double-digit leads over any GOP candidate,” Brown added.
In the Virginia governor’s race between Perriello and Gillespie, women back the Democrat
52 – 27 percent. Men are divided, with 40 percent for Gillespie and 39 percent for Perriello. White
voters go 42 percent for Gillespie and 39 percent for Perriello, while non-white voters go
Democratic 64 – 14 percent. Independent voters back the Democrat 39 – 27 percent.
In the Northam-Gillespie face-off, women go Democratic 49 – 28 percent, while men go 39
percent for the Republican and 38 percent for the Democrat. White voters go 41 percent for
Gillespie and 38 percent for Northam. Non-white voters go Democratic 58 – 16 percent.
Trump, McAuliffe Approval Ratings
Virginia voters disapprove 57 – 36 percent of the job President Donald Trump is doing.
Republicans, white voters with no college degree and white men are the only listed party, gender,
educational, age or racial groups to approve.
Voters approve 52 – 32 percent of the job Gov. Terry McAuliffe is doing.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner gets a 62 – 27 percent approval rating.
2018 U.S. Senate Race
In an early look at the 2018 U.S. Senate race in Virginia, Democratic incumbent Sen. Tim
Kaine has strong leads over two possible Republican challengers:


56 – 35 percent over Laura Ingraham;
57 – 33 percent over Carly Fiorina.
Kaine has a 58 – 34 percent job approval and a 57 – 36 percent favorability rating. Fiorina
gets a negative 26 – 36 percent favorability rating, with 37 percent who don’t know enough about
her to form an opinion of her. For Ingraham, 52 percent don’t know enough to form an opinion.
From April 6 – 10, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,115 Virginia voters with a margin of
error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. The survey includes 435 Republicans with a margin of error of
+/- 4.7 percentage points and 483 Democrats with a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points.
Live interviewers call landlines and cell phones.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia,
Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.
2
1. (If Republican or Republican Leaner) If the Republican primary for governor
were being held today, and the candidates were Ed Gillespie, Corey Stewart, and
Frank Wagner, for whom would you vote?
REPUBLICANS/REPUBLICAN LEANERS..............................
Wht
POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
WHITE......
BrnAgn CONSERVATIVE Mod/
COLLEGE DEG
Tot
Evang Very
Smwht Lib
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Gillespie
Stewart
Wagner
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
28%
12
7
2
51
22%
15
5
1
57
27%
19
4
50
30%
7
8
1
2
50
29%
8
8
4
51
33%
11
9
1
2
44
22%
12
4
2
60
31%
13
8
1
2
45
22%
10
7
1
60
2. (If Democrat or Democratic Leaner) If the Democratic primary for governor were
being held today, and the candidates were Tom Perriello and Ralph Northam, for
whom would you vote?
DEMOCRATS/DEMOCRATIC LEANERS..........
POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
LIBERAL..... Mod/
Tot
Very
Smwht Cons
Men
Wom
Perriello
Northam
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
25%
20
1
2
51
33%
18
1
48
25%
23
1
2
50
24%
20
1
3
52
31%
17
1
2
49
22%
22
1
3
53
3. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were
Ralph Northam the Democrat and Ed Gillespie the Republican, for whom would you
vote?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Northam
Gillespie
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
Northam
Gillespie
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
44%
33
1
3
19
2%
83
2
13
49%
28
1
2
20
44%
36
1
18
31%
48
1
2
18
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
53%
24
1
4
18
33%
46
1
3
17
38%
41
1
2
18
58%
16
2
4
20
45%
33
1
3
18
83%
5
1
2
10
43%
36
1
2
18
39%
30
1
3
28
39%
39
2
19
38%
39
1
3
19
43%
37
19
3
4. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were
Ralph Northam the Democrat and Corey Stewart the Republican, for whom would you
vote?
Northam
Stewart
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
Northam
Stewart
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
43%
30
1
3
23
3%
82
1
1
13
85%
1
1
2
10
36%
24
1
4
34
37%
36
1
3
22
49%
24
2
3
23
43%
34
1
3
20
30%
42
1
1
26
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
49%
21
1
6
23
33%
42
1
3
21
37%
38
1
2
23
60%
13
2
4
21
45%
29
1
2
22
45%
31
1
2
20
39%
37
1
2
21
41%
34
1
1
24
5. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were
Ralph Northam the Democrat and Frank Wagner the Republican, for whom would you
vote?
Northam
Wagner
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
Northam
Wagner
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
43%
30
1
3
24
3%
76
1
20
85%
3
2
10
33%
25
2
4
36
35%
36
1
4
24
49%
24
1
2
23
44%
31
2
22
29%
42
2
1
26
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
45%
27
5
23
32%
43
2
3
21
37%
36
1
2
23
57%
15
1
5
22
45%
27
2
3
24
44%
32
1
3
19
40%
32
1
2
25
43%
31
1
26
4
6. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were
Tom Perriello the Democrat and Ed Gillespie the Republican, for whom would you
vote?
Perriello
Gillespie
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
Perriello
Gillespie
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
46%
33
1
2
18
2%
85
1
2
11
89%
3
8
39%
27
1
3
29
39%
40
1
2
17
52%
27
1
1
19
44%
37
1
1
18
34%
47
1
2
16
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
55%
23
3
19
34%
47
1
2
16
39%
42
1
2
17
64%
14
1
1
20
47%
32
1
2
19
46%
37
1
1
15
42%
38
1
2
17
44%
36
1
1
18
7. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were
Tom Perriello the Democrat and Corey Stewart the Republican, for whom would you
vote?
Perriello
Stewart
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
Perriello
Stewart
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
45%
31
1
2
20
3%
84
1
1
12
87%
2
11
38%
26
1
4
31
40%
38
3
18
51%
25
1
2
22
43%
35
1
2
20
33%
45
1
2
20
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
55%
24
3
18
34%
45
3
18
38%
40
1
2
20
64%
14
2
19
42%
32
1
3
22
47%
33
1
3
17
41%
37
1
1
20
42%
34
1
1
22
5
8. If the election for Governor were being held today, and the candidates were
Tom Perriello the Democrat and Frank Wagner the Republican, for whom would you
vote?
Perriello
Wagner
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
Perriello
Wagner
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
43%
32
1
3
21
3%
82
1
14
86%
3
10
34%
27
2
4
33
36%
39
1
4
21
50%
26
1
2
21
41%
35
2
21
33%
47
1
1
18
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
45%
31
5
20
32%
46
1
2
19
37%
40
1
2
20
59%
15
2
4
21
44%
28
2
3
23
47%
33
3
17
41%
37
1
1
19
42%
35
1
1
21
9. Is your opinion of Ralph Northam favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard
enough about him?
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
24%
8
66
1
8%
14
77
1
44%
3
51
2
20%
10
69
2
23%
11
64
2
25%
6
68
1
28%
10
61
1
19%
9
71
1
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
21%
5
72
2
25%
12
63
1
24%
10
66
1
27%
6
65
3
27%
12
60
1
27%
10
62
1
24%
7
69
-
23%
7
69
1
10. Is your opinion of Tom Perriello favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard
enough about him?
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
24%
11
63
2
5%
23
71
1
43%
4
51
2
19%
11
69
1
25%
12
61
2
24%
11
65
1
27%
15
58
1
18%
13
68
1
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
25%
5
68
3
24%
15
60
1
22%
14
62
1
29%
5
63
3
24%
15
60
2
25%
12
61
2
23%
14
62
1
21%
13
65
1
6
11. Is your opinion of Ed Gillespie favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard
enough about him?
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
23%
26
49
2
44%
8
48
1
8%
46
45
2
26%
23
50
1
28%
24
46
2
19%
27
53
1
26%
30
42
1
24%
19
55
1
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
20%
29
49
3
30%
24
44
2
25%
25
48
1
19%
28
51
2
20%
29
50
2
26%
26
47
1
27%
21
50
2
21%
25
52
1
12. Is your opinion of Corey Stewart favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard
enough about him?
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
12%
12
75
1
26%
1
72
1
3%
19
78
-
12%
14
73
1
15%
13
70
1
10%
10
80
-
13%
16
71
1
14%
6
79
1
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
7%
15
78
-
15%
12
72
1
13%
11
75
1
11%
13
76
-
16%
12
72
-
14%
12
72
2
13%
8
78
-
12%
10
78
-
13. Is your opinion of Frank Wagner favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard
enough about him?
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
11%
10
77
2
19%
3
77
1
4%
17
77
2
13%
8
78
1
16%
8
74
2
7%
12
80
2
11%
11
77
1
14%
6
79
1
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
9%
12
76
2
17%
7
74
1
12%
9
78
1
9%
12
76
3
8%
11
77
4
15%
9
75
1
13%
8
78
1
7%
11
81
1
7
14. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the
candidates were Tim Kaine the Democrat and Laura Ingraham the Republican, for
whom would you vote?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Kaine
Ingraham
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
Kaine
Ingraham
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
56%
35
2
7
5%
88
1
6
63%
27
1
9
54%
39
1
5
40%
49
1
10
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
64%
24
2
10
42%
49
2
6
48%
44
1
7
76%
15
2
7
59%
33
1
2
4
98%
1
1
55%
38
6
51%
33
1
3
12
52%
41
1
6
48%
43
3
6
53%
38
8
15. If the election for United States Senator were being held today, and the
candidates were Tim Kaine the Democrat and Carly Fiorina the Republican, for whom
would you vote?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Kaine
Fiorina
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
Kaine
Fiorina
SMONE ELSE(VOL)
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)
DK/NA
57%
33
3
7
4%
88
2
6
63%
26
3
8
55%
39
2
5
40%
47
3
10
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
64%
23
6
7
43%
49
2
6
48%
42
2
7
77%
13
1
5
5
59%
32
1
3
5
98%
1
1
57%
36
2
6
54%
29
1
5
11
50%
40
1
8
50%
41
4
6
53%
36
2
9
16. Is your opinion of Tim Kaine favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard
enough about him?
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
Yes
No
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
57%
36
7
1
9%
88
3
-
62%
29
9
-
57%
40
3
-
41%
51
6
2
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
58%
28
12
2
44%
51
3
2
49%
45
5
1
73%
15
11
-
60%
35
4
-
97%
3
-
58%
38
4
-
53%
37
9
2
53%
40
6
-
51%
43
4
2
54%
40
6
-
8
17. Is your opinion of Laura Ingraham favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard
enough about her?
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
26%
21
52
1
59%
3
38
-
2%
37
61
1
29%
21
50
1
33%
17
49
1
21%
24
55
1
31%
27
42
-
33%
14
53
-
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
15%
15
70
-
35%
18
46
-
32%
21
47
-
14%
21
63
1
32%
24
43
1
27%
26
46
1
32%
18
49
-
28%
23
48
-
18. Is your opinion of Carly Fiorina favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard
enough about her?
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Favorable
Unfavorable
Hvn't hrd enough
REFUSED
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
26%
36
37
1
56%
12
31
1
4%
64
31
1
29%
31
39
1
30%
32
36
1
22%
39
37
2
34%
45
21
1
28%
27
42
3
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
15%
37
45
3
35%
33
31
1
31%
36
31
2
14%
35
51
-
28%
37
35
-
30%
38
31
1
31%
31
36
1
28%
40
30
2
19. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Terry McAuliffe is handling his job
as Governor?
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
52%
32
16
20%
67
13
83%
7
10
47%
32
21
46%
38
16
58%
26
16
53%
36
11
42%
37
21
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
54%
24
22
44%
39
16
48%
36
15
63%
22
15
52%
32
17
56%
33
11
49%
39
13
52%
34
15
9
20. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling its
job?
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
38%
41
21
47%
29
24
30%
50
20
40%
42
18
42%
41
17
34%
42
24
40%
45
15
37%
35
28
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
44%
37
19
45%
38
17
39%
40
21
37%
45
18
34%
46
20
37%
46
17
36%
39
25
32%
42
25
21. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Mark Warner is handling his job as
United States Senator?
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
62%
27
11
32%
55
13
87%
6
6
63%
27
10
59%
31
11
65%
24
11
65%
28
7
55%
29
16
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
56%
27
16
56%
32
12
60%
28
11
68%
23
9
63%
22
14
68%
26
6
61%
32
6
64%
25
11
22. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tim Kaine is handling his job as
United States Senator?
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
58%
34
7
11%
84
5
96%
4
57%
34
10
52%
41
7
63%
29
8
55%
40
5
44%
47
9
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
64%
24
11
45%
47
8
50%
43
7
77%
16
7
58%
34
8
60%
36
4
53%
42
5
55%
40
6
10
23. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as
President?
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA
Approve
Disapprove
DK/NA
Tot
Rep
Dem
Ind
Men
Wom
WHITE......
COLLEGE DEG
Yes
No
36%
57
7
88%
6
6
3%
95
2
30%
59
10
42%
48
10
30%
65
5
38%
56
6
53%
40
7
AGE IN YRS..............
18-34 35-49 50-64 65+
WHITE.....
Men
Wom
Wht
NonWht
25%
67
8
50%
43
7
45%
49
7
16%
77
7
32%
62
6
39%
55
5
44%
49
8
40%
54
6
11