The latest poll on the triple scandals rocking Virginia Democratic politics finds that while Gov. Ralph Northam’s approval is weak, the state is not demanding his resignation despite calls for him to quit from many officials including former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
The University of Virginia Center for Politics/Ipsos poll of Virginia adults also shows that Attorney General Mark Herring is on stable ground in the state, but pressure to resign is still strong on Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax.
Northam and Herring are involved in a blackface scandal dating to their college years. Fairfax has been accused of sexual harassment.
While only 17 percent of Virginia adults said that they approved of Northam’s job performance since the scandal broke, just 31 percent said he should resign. Another 43 percent said he shouldn’t.
New Ipsos/Center for Politics poll of Virginia: Northam approval weak but Virginians not demanding resignation; belief that Fairfax should resign stronger but still mixed; public not supportive of impeaching either https://t.co/zufXir68W8
— Center for Politics (@Center4Politics) February 20, 2019
A prior survey showed Virginians evenly split on his resignation, suggesting that the governor is weathering the storm.
On Herring, 19 percent said he should resign and 14 percent want him impeached, “giving him better numbers on these two questions than Northam and Fairfax,” said the survey put on via Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball page.
Herring is expected to run for governor in 2021. Northam can only serve one term.
The poll wasn’t so positive, however, for Fairfax. Two women have accused him of assault. He has said that the encounters were consensual.
The poll found that 35 percent favor his resignation, 25 percent don’t. Another 34 percent said they weren’t sure.
The survey also measured the approval of President Trump and found him under water, with 25 percent approving of his job performance and 56 percent not approving.
Still, said the survey analysis, “And for as bad as Trump’s approval is in this poll (25 percent), Northam’s is even worse (17 percent).”
