News
Commonwealth Poll selected CNN 2020 Presidential Election Poll
August 26, 2020
By Tiffany Murray-Robertson
The VCU Wilder School Commonwealth Poll has been selected as a featured 2020 Presidential Election Poll by CNN. Selection as a CNN-approved poll is based on a rigorous review of methodologies and assumptions that ensure that CNN-cited polling entities are employing the gold standard in public opinion research.
A division of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, the Commonwealth Poll has a long history within the Center for Public Policy. For nearly three decades, the poll has been an important bellwether for policymakers in Virginia and beyond on a range of topics, including: voting intentions, economic and workforce development, education, housing, public health, public safety and racial equity.
The Commonwealth Poll is produced by a team that includes Robyn McDougle, Ph.D., director of the Center for Public Policy, Farrah Stone, Ph.D., poll director and Brittany Keegan, Ph.D., director of research and outreach for the Center for Public Policy. It. findings have been cited by CNN, the New York Times and The Washington Post.
“The Commonwealth Poll has long provided unparalleled insights into the opinions of Virginians during presidential election cycles,” said Susan Gooden, Ph.D., dean of the Wilder School. “We are thrilled to be among CNN’s 2020 Presidential Election Polls. This acknowledgement amplifies the voice of Virginians during an extraordinarily consequential election and solidifies the Commonwealth Poll as one of the top polling operations in the nation.”
“The selection of the Commonwealth Poll by CNN really highlights the importance of Virginia in a pivotal election,” said McDougle.
“With just 70 days until the election, we expect that our poll will continue to be a critical indicator for journalists and policy makers in determining what issues are important, how candidate qualities may affect voter’s decisions and how much support there is for particular policy changes.”
The Commonwealth Poll is among a short list of polling entities to pass CNN's strict standards for reliability in the 2020 presidential election cycle nationally. Its most recent poll conducted July 11-19, found then-presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden leading President Donald Trump 50% to 39% statewide and 57% to 23% in Northern Virginia. Learn more about the Commonwealth Poll.