RICHMOND, Va. — A new poll out from Virginia Commonwealth University shows Democratic candidate for governor Abigail Spanberger holding a seven-point lead, 49% to 42%, over Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs said Tuesday.

This is the first VCU poll out since the Jay Jones text messages were leaked, which dominated coverage of the campaign over several news cycles, and was brought up by Earle-Sears several times during her debate with Spanberger on Oct. 8.

Jones, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, reportedly sent text messages to a colleague several years ago where he suggested that former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, a Republican, and his family should be shot.

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