Spanberger Approval Plummets Ahead of Virginia Gerrymandering Vote

Democratic governor faces backlash over tax hikes and gun control measures

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:35pm

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A conceptual illustration in the style of Giacomo Balla, featuring a fractured, geometric painting of the Virginia state capitol building repeated and overlapping in shades of blue and grey, conveying a sense of motion and instability.The Virginia governor's plummeting approval ratings raise concerns about the political consequences of a proposed gerrymandering plan that could reshape the state's congressional map.George Mason Today

A new poll shows Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has the lowest approval rating of any of the state's last nine governors, with just 47% of registered voters approving of her performance. The poll comes as Spanberger pushes a controversial gerrymandering plan that would likely shift the state's House delegation to 10 Democrats and 1 Republican.

Why it matters

Spanberger's unpopularity and the proposed gerrymandering plan could have major implications for the balance of power in Virginia and the U.S. House of Representatives. The governor's agenda of tax hikes and gun control has also drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans in the state.

The details

The Washington Post-Schar School poll found that 46% of registered Virginia voters disapprove of Spanberger's performance, making her the only one of the state's last nine governors to have a disapproval rating greater than 40%. Her predecessor, Republican Glenn Youngkin, had an average approval rating of 54% and an average disapproval of 39%.

  • The poll was conducted from March 26 to 31, 2026.
  • Virginia voters will head to the polls on April 21, 2026 to vote on Spanberger's proposed gerrymandering plan.

The players

Abigail Spanberger

The Democratic governor of Virginia who is facing low approval ratings and pushing a controversial gerrymandering plan.

Glenn Youngkin

The previous Republican governor of Virginia, who had higher approval ratings than Spanberger.

Ralph Northam

The former Democratic governor of Virginia, who faced controversy over a photo from his medical school yearbook.

Mark Rozell

The dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, who commented on Spanberger's low approval ratings.

Mark Moran

A former Democrat who is now running as an independent against incumbent Democratic Senator Mark Warner, and who criticized Spanberger's agenda.

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What they’re saying

“It's no surprise that Governor Spanberger is the most unpopular governor Virginia has seen in modern history.”

— Mark Moran, Senate candidate

“Virginians elected her [Spanberger] on promises of moderation, but instead she's pushed a radical agenda that attacks Virginians Second Amendment rights and rigs the maps through gerrymandering to protect her party's power. When you govern against Virginians, we notice.”

— Mark Moran, Senate candidate

What’s next

Virginia voters will head to the polls on April 21, 2026 to vote on Spanberger's proposed gerrymandering plan.

The takeaway

Spanberger's plummeting approval ratings and controversial gerrymandering plan have raised concerns about the balance of power in Virginia and the integrity of the state's electoral process. Her agenda of tax hikes and gun control has also drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle, suggesting she may face an uphill battle in governing the state.