The new Virginia Commonwealth University poll gives Spanberger an advantage over Earle-Sears, with 48 percent of respondents saying they plan to vote for the Democratic candidate and only 36 percent backing the Republican.

RICHMOND — GOP gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears has asked her campaign manager — a pastor with no political experience — to step away from that role amid calls from some fellow Republicans to shake up a campaign that is lagging in fundraising and polls, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Wilder School Commonwealth poll finds Democratic candidate and former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger leading Republican Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, 49% to 37%, among registered voters. A December 2024 VCU poll showed Spanberger ahead of Earle-Sears,