CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The latest poll tracking the Virginia governor’s race was released by Emerson College Polling/The Hill on Thursday and shows Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger with a 52-42% lead over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, the current lieutenant governor.

The company’s first poll, in January, had Spanberger with just a 1% edge, 42-41%.

One of the biggest trends came with a reversal among independent voters. That group favored Earle-Sears by four points in January, but shifted to Spanberger by 19 points in the latest poll.

The No. 1 issue for voters, according to the poll, is the economy (35%), with 20% signaling threats to democracy as their primary focus. Education (10%), healthcare (9%) and housing affordability (8%) were also listed.

Democrats appear to be getting a boost by linking Earle-Sears to President Trump and his policies. According to the poll, 54% of respondents disapprove of the job Trump is doing in the White House.

At the same time, transgender issues — a focal point of Earle-Sears’s campaign — is considered very important by just 27% of people polled.

The Emerson poll was conducted Sept. 28-29 and was done by phone, text message and online with a group of 725 likely voters.