Polls in Virginia and elsewhere suggest the top issue on voters’ minds this fall is affordability. Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau says focusing on transgender rights could work in some places but not in Virginia. “The Earle-Sears campaign is counting on transgender rights splitting independent and center-right voters in the same way it was problematic for Vice President Harris,” Mollineau said. National polling, meanwhile, also suggests that debates over transgender policies rank lower among some voters’ priorities. A host of downballot Virginia Republicans are mirroring Earle-Sears’ messaging topics as are GOP candidates running in Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.