CNU’s State of the Commonwealth 2024 poll results

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – Christopher Newport University’s (CNU) State of the Commonwealth briefing shows were many Virginian’s fall on various issues concerning the Commonwealth.

According to CNU, Virginia is one of 10 states in the U.S. with a divided government, making it necessary for both parties to work together to accomplish common goals.

Many of the divisions between Republicans and Democrats in Virginia concern issues such as banning assault-style weapons, abortion and raising the minimum wage. Areas where Virginian’s were seen to agree were on issues such as safe gun storage, repeal of the car tax and making K-12 education more of a priority.

CNU’s poll found that 43% of people believe that Virginia is headed in the right direction, with 37% believing otherwise.

Nationally, only 36% of Virginian’s approve President Joe Biden. The poll also found that an overwhelming 71% say that the country is headed in the wrong direction.

Governor Glenn Youngkin came away with a 50% approval rate, which is mostly split down the party line with 85% of Republicans approving Youngkin and 65% of Democrats disapproving Youngkin.

While Youngkin still has two years left in his term, two candidates on the Democratic side, Congresswoman Spanberger of District 7 and Mayor Stoney of Richmond, have tossed their hat in the ring for the 2025 governor race.

Even with the race two years away, CNU’s poll found that 43% of people are favorable towards Spanberger, while Mayor Stoney only received a 10% approval rating. Both polls indicated that most people were unsure about both candidates at this time, so this is likely to change as the race draws closer.

Voters of Virginia were also asked about their top priorities for both the governor and General Assembly, including, infrastructure, affordable housing, environmental protection, reducing crime, addressing gun violence, improving K-12 education, reducing healthcare costs, addressing mental health challenges, strengthening the state’s economy and cutting taxes.

Polling information found that the three top issues for most Virginians is improving K-12 education with 72%, reducing crime with 62% and reducing healthcare costs with 59%.

A more in-depth look at the poll shows the different values that Republicans and Democrats prioritize in the state. Republican’s top priorities were reducing crime with 76%, K-12 education with 75% and strengthening the state’s economy with 72%. Democrat’s top priorities were reducing gun violence with 81%, K-12 education with 76% and increasing access to affordable housing with 61%.

Many Virginian’s also showed support for two possible constitutional amendments, with one guaranteeing abortion rights in the state with a 62% approval rating, and the other that would allow felons who completed their prison sentence to have voting rights automatically restored upon release with a 66% approval rating.

Democrat’s and Independent’s in Virginia that were polled approved raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2026, while a majority of Republican’s polled did not approve of the raise.

One thing that Democrats and Republican’s seemed to agree on in the Commonwealth is establishing criminal penalties for gun owners if their firearms are taken by minors and used to commit crimes, like the shooting at Richneck Elementary School, with an overwhelming 81% approval.

Much of the Commonwealth remains divided on an array of issues, but a small majority of Virginian’s, both Democratic and Republican, support the retail sale of recreational marijuana (57%).

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