In Richmond, Virginia, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is setting her sights on the gubernatorial race, ready to face the challenges her candidacy presents. As a Jamaican immigrant, Marine veteran, and dedicated Christian, she aims to first secure victory in the Republican primary in June. This endeavor is made more complex in a party deeply influenced by former President Donald Trump and his “Make America Great Again” ethos. Should she win the primary, Earle-Sears would then need to engage with moderate and independent voters for success in November’s general election, while Democrats seek to tie her campaign to Trump’s reshaping of federal policies—an issue raising concerns among many Virginians.
In northern Virginia, an area where federal employment is prevalent, the shifts in Washington’s political climate are already noticeable. Earle-Sears, who has consistently challenged traditional conservative expectations in Virginia, believes she is prepared for this political battle. “Life is a fight,” she asserted in an interview, emphasizing that grappling with challenges is expected.
However, the political landscape is becoming increasingly complicated. Initially, Earle-Sears was gearing up to face a single potential GOP opponent, whose campaign resources paled in comparison to her significant fundraising. But the dynamics changed when Dave LaRock, a former state delegate, announced his candidacy, promising to streamline government operations with his proposed “Virginia Department of Government Efficiency.” Soon after, ex-state Sen. Amanda Chase entered the fray, though it remains uncertain whether both will manage to secure the signatures necessary to appear on the primary ballot.
Despite Trump refraining from endorsing any candidate so far, Chase highlighted Earle-Sears’s past distance from Trump and his movement. “Our current announced Republican nominee is a Never Trumper who has really never come out and embraced our President, President Donald J. Trump,” she stated in her campaign. Earle-Sears’s campaign remains confident, stating, “Challengers can enter the race, but the outcome will be the same” – victory.
Historically, the odds might seem stacked against Virginia Republicans in this election cycle. Since 1977, newly elected presidents have typically seen Virginia elect a governor from the opposing party the following year. Trump, whom Earle-Sears’s rivals praise, has never won Virginia in any of his presidential bids. Democrats are drawing on the state’s resistance to Trump, criticizing Earle-Sears for her defense of his spending reductions and for endorsing what they view as an unwarranted downsizing of federal agencies.
Earle-Sears champions her journey as a testament to overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. As a Black Republican, she defies the traditional party lines, despite Virginia’s historical challenges for African American women seeking statewide office. Her office features Biblical quotes and images of prominent African American leaders, reflecting her resilience and inspiration.
Her political career is marked by unexpected victories, such as when she unseated a long-serving Democrat in her first major election battle, despite lower campaign funding. In 2021, she broke new ground by becoming Virginia’s first Black woman elected statewide. However, she has faced defeats as well, such as her loss to U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott in 2004 and her unsuccessful Senate write-in campaign in 2018.
Ernest McGowen, political science professor at the University of Richmond, notes the unique challenges and insights Earle-Sears brings as a triple minority in politics. He emphasizes the potential of her life experiences to resonate within her party, though she must navigate existing stereotypes and biases.
Virginia is one of two states electing a new governor this year and hosts a significant number of federal jobs. As Trump continues to implement his agenda, diminishing some agencies, voter sentiments are likely to be shaped by these changes. Already, hundreds of federal workers and contractors in Virginia have applied for unemployment benefits due to this trend, with expectations of further increases, according to State Labor Secretary George “Bryan” Slater.
Differences within the Virginia Republican Party regarding loyalty to Trump are evident. LaRock attended the controversial “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House in 2021, although he claims no involvement in the subsequent Capitol violence. Chase, a self-described “Trump in heels,” faced censure from the state Senate for her reaction to the January 6 Capitol events.
Earle-Sears has maintained some distance from Trump. In 2020, she co-led a pro-Trump group for his re-election but later suggested the party might need to move past him. In her memoir, she praised Trump’s initial term but advised against another presidential bid from him. Despite Trump’s past criticism of her, Earle-Sears remains firm in her convictions.
“I’m a Christian, and so that’s where I go to for guidance,” she said, underscoring her faith as a source of strength amidst political turbulence.