Democratic Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger is the most vulnerable incumbent in Virginia.
After narrowly winning a Republican-leaning seat in 2018, Spanberger faces a tough fight in 2020.
And a new poll suggests that Delegate Nick Freitas could be one to face off against Spanberger if he chooses to run.
Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Congressman Dave Brat in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District while riding a wave of resentment against President Trump and the Republican Party.
She became the first Democrat in decades to represent the central Virginia district which runs from Culpeper in the north to the Richmond suburbs of Henrico and Chesterfield in the south.
However, Spanberger is widely regarded as one of the most vulnerable Democrats in Virginia. Representing the most Republican-leaning district in Virginia of any Democrat, she would likely be among the first to lose if the GOP retakes any seats in 2020.
She only narrowly won the seat last November and had to tread a fine line between her liberal base and the conservative constituency she hoped to represent in order to do so.
With the 2020 election cycle just around the corner, many political analysts believe Spanberger is the most vulnerable incumbent in Virginia, as Republicans seek to retake the seat in their quest to reclaim the House of Representatives next year.
The Republican primary in the 7th District could be one of the most closely watched races of 2020, with up to a dozen potential candidates from state legislators to conservative activists jumping into the field.
And the first polling for the potential 7th District match up has just been released.
A poll conducted by WPA Intel and the Club4Growth between May 13 and May 15 shows what the primary field next year may look like.
And the results show State Delegate and former U.S. Senate candidate Nick Freitas is leading the field more than a year out from primary day, though over half the electorate remains undecided.
“Virginia Delegate Nick Freitas has a strong lead in a possible Republican primary for the Virginia 7th Congressional District race if he decides to run. Freitas has a double-digit lead over his closest competitor,” reports WPA Intel when releasing the polling results.
“Freitas, a favorite of libertarian and liberty-oriented conservatives, is being strongly encouraged to run for the VA-07 seat, which was held by another favorite of the liberty-wing, Dave Brat until his defeat last year. Freitas also has strong name ID with 41% of respondents knowing who he is,” adds WPA Intel.
The poll results show Freitas with 23% of the vote in a five way race, with State Senator Bryce Reeves, who previously ran statewide for Lt. Governor in 2017, in second with 11%. Freshman State Delegate John McGuire comes in third with 9%, while conservatives activists Tina Ramirez and Peter Greenwald round out fourth and fifth with 4% and 1% respectively.
A majority of the Republican primary electorate remains undecided, suggesting the race remains wide open despite Freitas’ early lead. The only announced candidates so far are Ramirez and Greenwald.
However, Freitas’ strong showing in the poll suggests Club4Growth is ready to throw their support behind his candidacy should he enter the race.
“Nick Freitas is well-positioned to win the Republican nomination in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District,” said Club for Growth PAC President David McIntosh in a press release. “We plan to invest more resources in Nick’s candidacy than in any of our previous House races.”
Freitas’ name ID and favorability numbers are also the highest out of all the polled candidates, with a 27% to 2% favorable to unfavorable rating. Reeves follows closely behind with 38% name ID, and a 22% to 4% favorable to unfavorable rating.
The Republican nominee for the 7th District will be selected next spring.
Who do you think will be the Republican nominee to go up against Abigail Spanberger?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.