McAuliffe, Youngkin deadlocked in Virginia gov race, with independent support now with GOP, poll

The Virginia governor’s race between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin is deadlocked with support among independent voters now with GOP nominee, according to a new Monmouth University poll. 

The poll also shows support among independents has flipped between the nominees. Youngkin now leads 48% to 39%, compared to last month's poll that showed McAuliffe leading  46% to 37%.

The poll shows the nominees each with 46% support among registered voters. 

McAuliffe, a former Virginia governor, has lost the 5-point lead he had in the last.

On one of race's major voter issues, schools, Youngkin has drawn even with McAuliffe on being trusted more to handle education and schools, 39% to 38%. He trailed McAuliffe on this issue in September, 33% to 37%, and August, 31% to 36%. 

Two percent of voters prefer another candidate, and 7 percent are undecided, the poll also found.

Most other polls have also shown the race in a dead heat or McAuliffe slight ahead, in a state Democrat President Joe Biden won in 2020 by 10 points.