New poll says Northam has 7 point lead over Gillespie in Virginia's race for governor

RICHMOND, Va. - A new poll shows Democrat Ralph Northam with a seven-point lead over Republican Ed Gillespie in Virginia's closely watched race for governor.

The poll, released on Friday by the Wason Center for Public Policy at Christopher Newport University, puts Northam, Virginia's current lieutenant governor, at 50 percent, and Gillespie, former Republican National Committee Chair, at 43 percent.

Libertarian Cliff Hyra polled at 3 percent, and 4 percent were undecided.

The survey's margin of error is +/- 3.8 percent.

Virginia's 2017 gubernatorial election will take place on November 7 of this year.