VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Incumbent Republican Jen Kiggans is up just 1 point over Democrat Missy Cotter in the latest polling from Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District.

That’s down from the 5-point lead Kiggans had over Cotter Smasal in the last poll from Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center back in mid-September.

The poll of the 2nd District also has Vice President Kamala Harris up 2 points on former President Donald Trump, 47% to 45% among likely voters. Harris has a negative favorability rating (46% favorable to 48% unfavorable), but Trump is down 11 points in favorability (42% favorable to 53% unfavorable).

Meanwhile Republican Hung Cao also trails incumbent Democrat Tim Kaine by 7 points in the race for U.S. Senate.

Voters in the swing district, which shifted slightly more conservative in recent redistricting, voted for President Joe Biden (+2) in 2020, but Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin (+11) won it in 2021 and Kiggans beat Democrat incumbent Elaine Luria by three points in 2022.

The race for the 2nd’s congressional seat is one of just two competitive congressional races in the commonwealth, per Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball. Sabato, a UVA professor, still has the race as Leans Republican as of Wednesday.

“Since our last poll of this race, fielded in early to mid-September, the race has tightened as
partisans have come home to their respective candidates and more is known about the candidates,” the Wason Center said.

Cotter Smasal, a Navy veteran like Kiggans, has picked up significant support in recent weeks from independents, polling shows. Kiggans now holds just a +4 advantage (46% to 42%) after holding +20 lead back in September.

Kiggans’ support is mostly coming from male voters (52% to 38%), white voters (58% to 34%), and voters without college degrees (55% to 35%).

Cotter Smasal’s big support comes from women (52% to 39%), Black voters (81% to 7%), and college-educated voters (51% to 40%).

The big change on the issues since the last polling? “Threats to democracy” rose as the top issue, from 12% to 20% of voters polled. That’s higher than immigration (13%) and abortion rights (10%). Inflation though remains the top issue for 30% of all likely voters in the district.

You can read the full poll here.