Northern Virginia Voters Survey Results
July 25 to July 29, 2025
Methodology
This survey was conducted among 411 registered voters residing in Northern Virginia, including the counties and cities of Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun, and Prince William. The survey was conducted from July 25- 29, 2025. The survey has a confidence level of 95%, providing a margin of error of approximately ±4.8 percentage points.
1) How favorable or unfavorable is your opinion of Virginia’s public universities?
82% Favorable
4% Unfavorable
Democrats: 87% Favorable / 1% Unfavorable
Independents: 77% Favorable /7% Unfavorable
Republicans: 77% Favorable /9% Unfavorable
2) How favorable or unfavorable is your opinion of George Mason University?
81% Favorable
5% Unfavorable
Democrats: 86% Favorable / 1% Unfavorable
Independents: 77% Favorable / 8% Unfavorable
Republicans: 74% Favorable / 8% Unfavorable
3) How important is it to you that Virginia’s public universities remain independent from political influence?
93% Important
4% Unimportant
Democrats: 96% Important/ 2% Unimportant
Independents: 94% Important / 4% Unimportant
Republicans: 90% Important / 8% Unimportant
4) In the past few months, the presidents of Virginia Military Institute and the University of Virginia have been removed or pressured to resign following criticism of their leadership. Were you aware of these changes?
47% Aware
49% Wasn’t Aware
Democrats: 48% Aware /47% Wasn’t Aware
Independents: 49% Aware / 46% Wasn’t Aware
Republicans: 40% Aware / 56% Wasn’t Aware
5) Regardless of whether you were aware of these changes, do you support or oppose the decisions to remove or pressure the presidents of Virginia Military Institute and the University of Virginia to resign?
22% Support
57% Oppose
Democrats: 12% Support / 70% Oppose
Independents: 25% Support / 51% Oppose
Republicans: 41% Support / 35% Oppose
6) Would you support or oppose an effort to remove George Mason University’s president if it were driven by similar political pressure?
22% Support
62% Oppose
Democrats: 11% Support / 75% Oppose
Independents: 22% Support / 61% Oppose
Republicans: 46% Support / 38% Oppose
7) Some say these removals are part of a political campaign led by Governor Youngkin and President Trump to reshape Virginia’s universities by targeting leaders who promote diversity and inclusion. Others say the removals are justified oversight of universities who went too far on DEI.
65% Political campaign by Trump/Youngkin
23% Justified Oversight
Democrats: 84% Political campaign by Trump/Youngkin / 8% Justified Oversight
Independents: 66% Political campaign by Trump/Youngkin / 21% Justified Oversight
Republicans: 24% Political campaign by Trump/Youngkin / 60% Justified Oversight
8) George Mason University is Virginia’s largest and most diverse public university. If the president were removed due to political pressure, how concerned would you be about the impact on the university’s reputation?
75% Concerned
21% Unconcerned
Democrats: 90% Concerned / 6% Unconcerned
Independents: 70% Concerned / 26% Unconcerned
Republicans: 47% Concerned / 49% Unconcerned
9) If a university president is under federal investigation but has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing, should the university’s Board of Visitors wait for the investigation to conclude before taking any action?
76% Should Wait
14% Act Immediately
Democrats: 8% Should Wait /12% Act Immediately
Independents: 77% Should Wait / 10% Act Immediately
Republicans: 67% Should Wait / 22% Act Immediately
10) Some leaders have accused universities of promoting “radical left-wing ideologies” through diversity efforts. Do you think George Mason University is doing too much, too little, or the right amount on diversity and inclusion?
12% too much
11% too little
51% the right amount
Democrats: 4% too much / 11% too little / 66% right amount
Independents: 13% too much / 8% too little / 44% right amount
Republicans: 28% too much / 16% too little / 29% right amount
