VA-07 Poll Shows Abigail Spanberger leading Tea Partier Dave Brat
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Poll shows Rep. Dave Brat (R) in tight race with Democrat Abigail Spanberger (Washington Post)
This year, Brat is contending with a strong challenge from Spanberger, who could benefit from anti-Trump sentiment in the district’s suburban areas and lingering resentment that Cantor supporters have for Brat. The Cook Political Report classifies the race as a “toss-up.”
The poll finds that Spanberger, who has sought to appeal to swing voters and Republicans by playing up her background in national security, has more cross-party appeal than Brat.
He Won a Shocking Upset. Now He’s Trying to Hold Off a Blue Wave (Bloomberg)
This year, there’s been a power shift. Democrats are looking to generate a blue wave that will sweep Republicans out of power in the House, and Brat’s opponent, Abigail Spanberger, is the prototypical candidate on which those hopes are based.
An ex-CIA officer, Spanberger is one of a surge of female candidates running in what could be the year of the woman, seeking to flip suburban voters who’ve soured on President Donald Trump in a district Trump won in 2016.
Right now, it’s a toss up.
Four years later, Brat is now fighting for his political life. Thanks to the growing trend of suburban voters mounting frustration with President Donald Trump, his traditionally Republican district looks poised to flip.
Brat’s problems are indicative of the dilemma Republicans face in 2018: holding onto the moderate suburban GOP voters who don’t like Trump’s brand of politics, but avoiding angering the core Republican base voters who support the president.
Brat is also facing troubles resulting from his vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. During the 2017 repeal effort, when angry constituents were turning out in droves to the few town halls Republicans were holding, Brat dinged his female constituents, who were urging him not to repeal the ACA.
Poll: Challenger Spanberger Inches Ahead of Rep. Dave Brat (Roll Call)
The race for Rep. Dave Brat’s bid for a third term in Virginia’s 7th District appears to be tightening, according to a new Monmouth University poll that shows the conservative House Freedom Caucus member trailing former CIA officer Abigail Spanberger by 5 points.
Spanberger captured support from 47 percent of the 400 potential voters pollsters surveyed by phone from Sept. 15 through Sept. 24. Brat garnered 42 percent support among potential voters — which the Monmouth poll characterizes as voters who have participated in at least one election since 2010 or have newly registered to vote (a group that represents roughly nine in 10 of all registered voters in the district).
Dave Brat trailing in reelection bid (The Hill)
Republican Rep. Dave Brat is trailing Democrat Abigail Spanberger by 5 points in a Virginia district that hasn't sent a Democrat to the House in more than 45 years, according to a new poll.
Spanberger has the support of 47 percent of potential voters, compared to Brat's 42 percent, according to a Monmouth University survey released Tuesday. Spanberger's lead is just outside the poll's margin of error, which is 4.9 percentage points.