(The Center Square) – Household costs are the leading voting concern in two Virginia congressional districts where Republican incumbents face Democratic challengers.

A Washington Post-Schar School poll released Thursday found 42% of likely voters in the 1st Congressional District and 49% in the 5th named cost of living as their most important issue when voting for Congress.

Immigration followed at 15% in the 1st District and 11% in the 5th. Healthcare drew 9% and 8%, respectively, while taxes were the top issue for 9% and 7%.

More voters in both districts said their finances had worsened than improved since January 2025, when President Donald Trump took office for a second time.

In the 1st District, 42% said they were not as well off financially, compared with 24% who said they were better off. Another 33% said their finances were about the same.

In the 5th District, 39% said they were not as well off, 25% said they were better off and 35% said their finances were about the same.

Democrat Shannon Taylor received 50% support in the 1st District, compared with Republican Rep. Rob Wittman’s 46%.

Republican Rep. John McGuire received 51% support in the 5th District, compared with Democrat Tom Perriello’s 45%.

The results include voters leaning toward a candidate and those who had already cast ballots.

The survey was conducted Sept. 23-28 among 609 registered voters in the 1st District and 600 in the 5th. Responses were weighted to produce likely-voter results.

The Post and George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government jointly sponsored and funded the poll. The margin of error was +/- 4.5% in the 1st District and 4.6% in the 5th.

Campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show Wittman’s campaign reported about $4.3 million in cash on hand as of July 15, compared with about $1 million for Taylor’s campaign.

Perriello’s campaign reported about $1.5 million in cash on hand, compared with about $524,000 for McGuire’s campaign as of the same date.

Through Wednesday, voters had cast 37,990 early ballots in the 1st District and 32,671 in the 5th, according to the Virginia Public Access Project’s tracker, which uses Virginia Department of Elections data.

In-person early voting began Sept. 18 and continues through Oct. 31. Election Day is Nov. 3.

The Center Square was unsuccessful prior to publication getting comments from the campaigns of Taylor, Wittman, McGuire and Perriello.