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NEW POLL: Backlash – Youngkin Already Out of Touch With Virginia Voters on COVID-19; Virginians Support Vaccination and Mask Mandates to Slow Spread

By January 28, 2022No Comments

MEMORANDUM
TO: Interested Parties
FROM: Katherine Patterson, Public Policy Polling
DATE: January 27, 2022
RE: Backlash – Youngkin Already Out of Touch with Virginia Voters on COVID-19; Virginians Support Vaccination and Mask Mandates to Slow Spread

A new Public Policy Polling survey finds that Governor Glenn Youngkin’s COVID-19 response has already started to see a backlash with Virginia voters rejecting many of his policies. He is already out of touch with Virginia voters on COVID-19 response less than two weeks into his administration. When it comes to Youngkin’s job performance specifically on the issue of the coronavirus, the Governor’s approval is already underwater (44-47), while voters disagree with his opposition to measures to slow the virus’ spread: 

  • By a 15-point margin (55-40), voters disagree with Youngkin’s executive order to remove the mask requirement in public schools.
  • By an 8-point margin (52-44), voters disagree with Youngkin’s day one executive order removing the vaccine requirement for state employees, like those at public colleges and universities.
  • By a 25-point margin (60-35), voters support the use of mask mandates, including 60-points (80-20) with Latino voters, 68-points (84-16) with African American voters and 27-points (60-33) with voters over 65.
  • By a 16-point margin (55-39), voters support the use of vaccine mandates, including 47-points (71-24) with Latino voters, 41-points (65-24) with African American voters and 26-points (60-34) with voters over 65. 

Virginians are also supportive of school boards across the state, agreeing that local school boards that oppose Youngkin’s order removing mask mandates in schools and have filed lawsuits are right. Voters support the school boards by a 15-point margin (55-40). 

By an even larger 25-point margin (56-31), Virginia voters say they think local school districts should set mask requirements themselves, rather than have the mask requirements set by Youngkin. 

Public Policy Polling surveyed 681 Virginia voters from January 25-26, 2022 on behalf of the Coronavirus War Room, a project of Protect Our Care. The margin of error is +/- 3.8%. 60% of interviews for the survey were conducted by text message and 40% by telephone.