Economy top of mind for voters across races, preliminary ABC News exit polls show

How are voters in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City feeling about the country, the economy and other issues? Here’s what we learned from preliminary ABC News exit polls, conducted by SSRS. 

 This story will be updated throughout the evening as polling numbers come in.

Virginia

The economy is the biggest issue for Virginia voters, by far:

Nearly half of Virginia voters said that the economy was the most important issue facing the Commonwealth, while about 2 in 10 said health care was. Fewer, about 1 in 10, said immigration and education were the most important issues, while less than 1 in 10 said crime.

How Virginian voters are viewing the economy:

Most Virginia voters said federal government cuts are affecting their finances. About 6 in 10 said that the federal government cuts this year affected their family’s finances, including about 2 in 10 who said the cuts affected their finances «a lot.»

Most Virginia voters said the state’s economy is doing well, but few said their personal finances are improving:

Nearly 6 in 10 said that the state of the Commonwealth’s economy is «excellent» or «good,» while about 4 in 10 said the economy is «not so good» or «poor.» But few Virginia voters said their families are «getting ahead» financially. Just over 1 in 10 said they were getting ahead, while about 6 in 10 said they were «holding steady» and about 2 in 10 said they were «falling behind.»

Many voters in Virginia are employed or were previously employed by the federal government or as a federal contractor — many of whom are currently furloughed.

Election Day marks the 35th day of the government shutdown. Many federal employees have been furloughed; others have lost their jobs due to President Donald Trump’s steep cuts to the federal government. About 1 in 5 Virginia voters said they either currently or were previously employed by the federal government or as a federal contractor.

Other issues:

• Just over half of Virginia voters said that the Trump administration’s actions on immigration enforcement have «gone too far,» while around 1 in 6 say the actions have «not gone far enough,» according to preliminary exit polls.
• About 6 in 10 Virginia voters said that abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
• Around half of Virginia voters said that support for transgender rights in society have gone too far.

What Virginia voters were looking for in a gubernatorial candidate:

About a third of Virginia voters said that a candidate who shares their values was the quality that mattered the most in deciding how they voted for governor, followed by about 2 in 10 who said that the candidate was honest and trustworthy and another roughly 2 in 10 who said the candidate would work for people like them. Slightly fewer said they were looking for a candidate who would bring needed change while less than 1 in 10 said a candidate who had the right experience mattered the most.

Virginia voters are mostly negative about the state of the country:

About 6 in 10 said they are either dissatisfied or angry about the way things are going in the country today — including about one-third who said they are angry. Just about a third said they are enthusiastic or satisfied, according to preliminary exit polls.

Nearly half of Virginia voters said attorney general candidate Jay Jones’ texts were disqualifying for the job:

Democrat Jay Jones was revealed to have called for violence against a Republican lawmaker in leaked text messages. Nearly half of voters in the state said that the text messages were disqualifying for the job, while around a quarter said they were concerning but not disqualifying.

Virginia voter groups:

By region: Preliminary exit polling found that in Virginia’s D.C. suburbs and the Hampton Roads area, a majority of voters supported Democrat Abigail Spanberger. She also enjoyed a slim majority in Central Virginia. The vote was roughly tied in Richmond and the Southern part of the state. In the mountain region, Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears had an advantage.

By gender: Spanberger enjoys support from a majority of women while Earle-Sears has a slim majority of male voter support.

By Trump approval: Roughly half of Virginia voters strongly disapprove of Trump and those voters supported Spanberger by wide margins. A slim majority of small share of Virginia voters who «somewhat disapprove» of Trump supported Spanberger. Wide majorities of those who approve of Trump supported Earle-Sears.

Vote by 2024 vote: A vast majority  of those who supported Kamala Harris in 2024 supported Spanberger while nearly as many of those who voted for Trump supported Earle-Sears in this election.

By age: Younger voters largely supported Spanberger, with her earning support from roughly two-thirds of voters under 30. Over half of voters ages 30 to 44 in the Commonwealth supported her as well. The vote between those ages 45 and older was split somewhat evenly between the two candidates.

By race: Preliminary exit polls found that roughly 9 in 10 Black voters supported Spanberger, along with over 6 in 10 Hispanic/Latino and Asian voters. A slim majority of white voters supported Earle-Sears.

By education: Over half of white college graduates supported Spanberger, while two-thirds of white voters without college degrees supported Earle-Sears. Wide majorities of non-white voters both with and without college degrees supported Spanberger.

Among independents: Spanberger leads in preliminary exit polling by a double-digit margin. In the 2021 gubernatorial election in the Commonwealth, Republican Glenn Youngkin, who won the election, had support from over half of independents.

New Jersey

Taxes and the economy are the most important issues for New Jersey voters:

According to preliminary ABC News exit polls, nearly 4 in 10 said taxes were the most important issue facing New Jersey today, while another roughly third of voters said the economy was. Fewer named health care, immigration or crime.

More on how New Jersey voters are viewing the economy:

About 6 in 10 New Jersey voters said that the economy in the state was doing «not so good» or «poor,» while about 4 in 10 said it was «excellent» or «good.»

About 6 in 10 New Jersey voters said their family’s financial situation was «holding steady,» while just about 1 in 10 said they were «getting ahead» and about a quarter were falling behind.

New Jersey voters are largely negative on property taxes, with roughly 7 in 10 saying they were «a major problem» where they live.

Additionally, about 6 in 10 New Jersey voters said electricity costs where they live were «a major problem.»

Other issues:

• Just over half of New Jersey voters said that the Trump administration’s actions on immigration enforcement have «gone too far,» while half said that the next governor should cooperate with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement.
• Over 4 in 10 of New Jersey voters said that support for transgender rights in society have «gone too far,» according to preliminary exit polling. Roughly another quarter said they have not gone far enough and around a quarter said support for trans rights has been about right.

What New Jersey voters were looking for in a gubernatorial candidate:

About 3 in 10 voters in New Jersey said they were looking for a candidate for governor who would bring needed change, while roughly a quarter said they wanted a candidate who shared their values and about 2 in 10 said they wanted someone who would work for people like them. Slightly fewer said they wanted a candidate who was honest and trustworthy, while under 1 in 10 said they sought a governor who was a strong leader.

Most New Jersey voters are negative about the state of the country:

About two-thirds of New Jersey voters said they were «dissatisfied» or «angry» about the way things are going in the country today — including about 4 in 10 who said they were angry. Just about a third said they were «enthusiastic» or «satisfied.»

Most New Jersey voters feel political corruption is a big issue in the state:

Around 9 in 10 New Jersey voters said they think political corruption is a problem in New Jersey, including over half who feel it’s a «major problem.»

New York City

Cost of living is the most important issue to New York City voters:

More than half of voters in New York City said the cost of living was the most important issue facing the city, dwarfing the other issues measured in preliminary ABC News exit polling. Under a quarter said crime was the most important issue, followed by about 1 in 10 who said immigration. Single-digit percentages said health care or transportation were most important.

New York City voters on cost of living and the economy:

• Almost three-quarters of voters in New York City said that the cost of housing where they live is «a major problem.»
• About two-thirds of New York City voters said that the city’s economy was «not so good» or «poor,» while just about a third said it was «excellent» or «good.»
• About 6 in 10 New York City voters said their families were «holding steady» financially, while about a quarter said they were falling behind and roughly one in six were getting ahead.
• About 6 in 10 New York City voters think raising city taxes would do more to hurt the city’s economy. Roughly a third said raising city taxes would improve the economy.

What New York City voters were looking for in a mayoral candidate:

New York City voters are fairly divided in what candidate qualities mattered most to them. About a quarter said they most wanted a mayor who would bring needed change, while about 2 in 10 said they most sought someone with the right experience or someone who would work for people like them. Fewer said they most valued a mayor who was honest and trustworthy or who was a strong leader.

Methodology