In a recent poll conducted among West Virginia residents, intriguing insights emerged regarding the political landscape in the state, offering a glimpse into potential scenarios for the upcoming 2024 Senate race and the state’s sentiment on the 2020 presidential election.
The survey, conducted by Emerson College Polling, revealed that Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV), holds a substantial lead over the incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV). In this hypothetical 2024 Senate race, Justice commands a comfortable advantage, with a 41% to 28% margin.
Jim Justice soars past Joe Manchin in West Virginia Senate race: poll | Just The News https://t.co/cuKeBw6pHB
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) October 13, 2023
However, it is worth noting that 16% of respondents remained undecided, and an additional 15% indicated their support for other potential candidates. In contrast, if Manchin was to face Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), the survey suggests a more competitive contest. Manchin is projected to secure 37% of the vote, while Mooney is close behind at 31%.
That being said, it has been recently reported that Manchin is considering making a switch to the Independent party, and swing voters play a significant role in this dynamic, as pointed out by Emerson College Polling executive director Spencer Kimball.
He noted that “Independents are breaking for Justice, 43% to 18%, but in the matchup with Mooney, independents are evenly split at 32% each.” The survey also delved into the approval ratings of Justice and President Joe Biden among West Virginians.
Justice enjoys a 40% approval rating, with 26% disapproval and 34% of respondents indicating neutrality. President Biden, on the other hand, faces a challenging political landscape in the state, with only 19% approval and a substantial 71% disapproval rate. A mere 10% of voters remain neutral.
Justice’s approval transcends party lines, with approximately 50% of Republicans, 34% of Democrats, and 35% of independent voters expressing approval of his performance.
Turning the spotlight to the 2024 presidential election, the survey assessed the potential showdown between former President Donald Trump and President Biden.
Notably, the former president holds a substantial lead in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, commanding 59% of the support compared to Biden’s 23%. However, 13% of respondents expressed their intention to vote for another candidate, while 5% remained undecided.
The survey also shed light on the prevailing sentiment regarding the 2020 presidential election.
A majority of West Virginia voters, accounting for 51%, believe that President Biden’s victory was marred by allegations of election fraud, suggesting they view it as a stolen election. In contrast, 25% of respondents consider it a legitimate victory.
