By L. Douglas Wilder and Robyn McDougle

“Virginia has always helped define the course of this nation, and now in 2025, we are facing a defining moment once again,” said L. Douglas Wilder, the 66th governor of Virginia. “This latest poll reveals that 67% of Virginians oppose Medicaid cuts, 63% reject Governor Youngkin’s vetoes on affordable housing, and a majority disapprove of efforts eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Leadership is not measured by how loudly one appeals to partisan politics but how one protects people’s dignity, freedom, health and future. The people of Virginia are watching, and as always, they are ready to hold their leaders accountable.”

The poll, conducted between June 19 and July 3, surveyed 809 adults living in Virginia and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.

Direction of the commonwealth

Registered voters in Virginians are nearly evenly divided on whether the commonwealth is heading in the right direction (42%) or the wrong direction (38%). Party identity strongly shapes this view, as 69% of Republicans say Virginia is on the right track compared with just 22% of Democrats and 28% of independents.

Economic anxiety and college affordability

Cost-of-living issues continue to weigh on Virginians, with 62% of registered voters saying rising grocery prices are affecting their household finances — a concern shared broadly across party lines.

When asked whether the cost of an in-state four-year college degree is worth it, 48% say it is not, while 46% say it is. This compares with 43% of registered voters in the Wilder School’s 2024 winter poll who said the cost was not worth it and 41% who said it was. Democrats are more likely to see value in higher education (56%), compared with 34% of Republicans and 37% of independents. Among individuals ages 18 to 34 — those of college age or just past it — a striking 59% say the current cost is not worth it.

Support for major capital projects (buildings and expenses) at colleges and universities is split, with 41% in favor and 41% opposed, reflecting concerns about tuition and public spending.

Strong opposition to Medicaid cuts and housing vetoes

A clear majority of registered voters in Virginia (67%) oppose proposed federal Medicaid cuts that could affect hundreds of thousands of residents. While support for the cuts is higher among Republicans (47%), it remains a minority position for the party affiliation. Opposition is strong among independents (71%) and nearly unanimous among Democrats (94%).

Similarly, 63% of registered voters in Virginia oppose Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s vetoes of affordable housing policies, including 90% of Democrats and 64% of independents.

Federal workforce, DEI and immigration

When asked about reducing the federal workforce to cut spending, registered voters in Virginia are divided, as 46% approve and 51% disapprove. Republicans overwhelmingly support the idea (80%), while Democrats (80%) and a majority of independents (53%) disapprove.

More than half of registered voters (56%) oppose eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government and institutions. Similarly, when asked whether federal funding for colleges should depend on eliminating DEI initiatives, 53% said federal funding should not be contingent, while 25% said it should.

A clear majority of Virginians (63%) disapprove of President Trump’s executive orders that, according to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, disproportionately impact Black communities — such as eliminating collective bargaining rights for federal workers, dismantling the Department of Education and defunding the Minority Business Development Agency. Among respondents, 53% strongly disapprove, while 29% approve.

On immigration, nearly half of respondents (47%) say illegal immigration at the Southern border is a major problem. That view is most pronounced among Republicans (82%) but also shared by 41% of independents.

Division on national issues

President Trump’s executive orders and tariff policies remain polarizing in Virginia. Only 30% of voters in Virginia approve of the executive orders, and 30% believe his tariff policies will strengthen the U.S. economy. These views break sharply along party lines.

Approval of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) also shows partisan splits. Though 38% approve statewide, the figure reflects 80% support of Republicans but just 4% of Democrats.

Broad agreement on transgender sports policy

One of the few issues with bipartisan alignment is transgender participation in sports, as 69% of registered voters in Virginia believe athletes should only play on teams that match their birth gender — a view consistent with last year’s results, when 60% of registered voters said the same. This year’s result includes support from 93% of Republicans, 71% of independents and 51% of Democrats.