Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R., Va.) is more popular in Virginia than President Joe Biden, according to a recent statewide poll.
Half of Virginians surveyed approve of the job Youngkin is doing, whereas 41 percent approve of how Biden has handled things. A majority of Virginians—53 percent—disapprove of the job Biden is doing, whereas 41 percent disapprove of Youngkin. The poll was conducted by Roanoke College from Feb. 7 to 16 and surveyed more than 600 Virginia residents.
Youngkin bested Democrat and former Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe in November, swept into office by parents concerned over education issues. In his January inauguration address, Youngkin promised to "remove politics from the classroom." He shortly after issued executive orders to end "the use of divisive concepts, including critical race theory" from public schools and to "allow parents to make decisions on whether their child wears a mask in school."
The Virginia poll shows 51 percent of state voters approve of Youngkin's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas just 44 percent disapprove. Virginians broke with the governor, however, over his executive order on masks in schools: 52 percent disagreed with the move, while 46 percent agreed.
In February, though, Virginia ended school mask mandates after 10 Democratic state senators joined their Republican colleagues to codify Youngkin's executive order. Youngkin signed the bill into law on Feb. 16.