Since January, Spanberger’s support climbed from 42% to 52%, while Earle-Sears ticked up just one point, from 41% to 42%, the poll found. “Independent voters support Spanberger by a 19-point margin; a reversal from January, when they supported Earle-Sears by four points. “Meanwhile, Earle-Sears has not consolidated support among older voters; in January, those 50 and older were evenly divided, 43% for Spanberger and 42% for Earle-Sears. “While Governor Youngkin maintains a positive approval rating, Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears does not appear to benefit from it,” Kimball said. The Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey of 725 likely Virginia voters was conducted Sept. 28-29.