Far-right Republican Lt. Governor enters Virginia’s 2025 governor’s race

In this Sept. 1, 2021 file photo, Winsome Earle-Sears addresses the Virginia FREE Leadership Luncheon in McLean, Va. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

By Michael O'Connor

September 5, 2024

News broke Thursday morning that Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears had filed paperwork to become the first Republican to enter the governor’s race.

Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears is officially running for governor, according to a WRIC report.

Earle-Sears is the second candidate to enter the governor’s race and the only Republican to do so for now. Virginia’s state constitution does not allow governors to serve consecutive terms, so current Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin cannot run in 2025. It’s possible Virginia’s Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares could enter the race.

US Rep. Abigail Spanberger is the only Democrat currently running for governor after Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney dropped out of the governor’s race to run for lieutenant governor.

Virginia has never had a female governor. The prospect of two women competing for governor would be historic. Earle-Sears could also become the first Black female governor in US history.

Earle-Sears is the first woman of color to hold statewide office in Virginia. She formerly served in Virginia’s House of Delegates representing Norfolk and currently presides over the Virginia Senate in her role as lieutenant governor. Earle-Sears emigrated from Jamaica as a child and served in the Marines before getting into politics.

Earle-Sears’ time in office has had its share of controversy. She is a fierce proponent of gun rights and has posed with firearms in photos. Earlier this year, the deeply religious Earle-Sears had to apologize after misgendering state Sen. Danica Roem, Virginia’s first transgender person to serve in the state legislature. Most recently Earle-Sears defiantly faced a hostile crowd during remarks that included an impersonation of Kamala Harris. Watch below:

Video: Part 1 of VA Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears’…er, “interesting” speech yesterday in Buena Vista https://t.co/VHVw0G705h pic.twitter.com/qEelRSaDH6

— Blue Virginia (@bluevirginia) September 3, 2024

Michael O'Connor

Michael is an award-winning journalist who has been covering Virginia news since 2013 with reporting stints at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia Business, and Richmond BizSense. A graduate of William & Mary and Northern Virginia Community College, he also covered financial news for S&P Global Market Intelligence.

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