VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A new poll has incumbent Republican Jen Kiggans up five points over Democrat challenger Missy Cotter Smasal in the race for Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District.
The same poll from Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center also has Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump neck and neck in the swing district, which voted for President Joe Biden (+2) in 2020 and Gov. Glenn Youngkin (+11) in 2021.
Kiggans, who flipped the seat by beating Democrat Elaine Luria in 2022, has a big lead among independent voters (+20), men (+25) and white voter (+27), CNU says. Cotter Smasal, a fellow Navy veteran has major support from Black voters (+71) and is up 12 points with women voters.
The polling shows voters’ top issues are economy (30%), immigration (14%), threats to democracy (12%) and abortion (11%).
Likely voters say they’re more likely to trust Kiggans on military and veterans’ issues (48% to 32%), while they’re more likely to trust Cotter Smasal on reproductive rights (42% to 35%).
In the presidential race, Harris has an even favorability rating in the Second District, 47% to 47%, while Trump has a negative favorability (45% to 49%).
Meanwhile the race for Virginia’s open U.S. Senate seat isn’t nearly as close in the 2nd District, with Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine up 11 points on Republican Hung Cao.
Overall, Harris leads Trump by 10 points in Virginia, according to a recent poll by VCU. A previous poll by VCU before President Joe Biden dropped out had Trump up by 3 points.
Read the full poll from CNU here.