{"id":2439990,"date":"2025-05-28T16:13:02","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T20:13:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/who-is-winsome-earle-sears-meet-the-virginia-gop-gubernatorial-candidate\/"},"modified":"2025-05-28T16:13:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T20:13:59","slug":"who-is-winsome-earle-sears-meet-the-virginia-gop-gubernatorial-candidate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/who-is-winsome-earle-sears-meet-the-virginia-gop-gubernatorial-candidate\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is Winsome Earle-Sears? Meet the Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwho-is-winsome-earle-sears-meet-the-virginia-gop-gubernatorial-candidate%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2439990&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>winsome Earle-Sears, the current lieutenant governor of Virginia, is a candidate for the state&#8217;s gubernatorial election on November 4, facing off against former Representative Abigail Spanberger. Earle-Sears made history as the first Black woman and the first female lieutenant governor in Virginia. At 61 years old, she immigrated from Jamaica to the U.S.at the age of six and was raised in the Bronx before moving to Virginia for her education. <\/p>\n<p>She holds an associate&#8217;s degree from Tidewater Community College, a bachelor&#8217;s degree in English from Old Dominion University, and a master&#8217;s degree in organizational leadership from Regent University. Earle-Sears has authored two books and has a diverse background,including service as an electrician in the Marine Corps,leading a men&#8217;s prison ministry,and directing a women&#8217;s homeless shelter. <\/p>\n<p>She advocates for various policies, notably <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-what-do-we-do-about-the-homeless\/\" title=\"WATCH: What Do We Do About The Homeless?\">mental health funding<\/a>, spurred by personal tragedy, and stands firm against allowing transgender women in women&#8217;s sports.Earle-Sears emphasizes a tough stance on crime and has faced criticism from some within her party for not aligning closely with the MAGA movement. Throughout her political career, she has held several appointments and aims to further solidify her platform leading up to the election.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Who is Winsome Earle-Sears? Meet the Republican candidate for Virginia governor<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2037371\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Lt. Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/winsome-earle-sears\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Winsome Earle-Sears\">Winsome Earle-Sears<\/a> (R-VA) will<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3367553\/virginia-governors-race-set-between-earle-sears-spanberger\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"> face off<\/a> against former Rep. <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/abigail-spanberger\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Abigail Spanberger<\/a> in the Nov. 4 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gubernatorial-races\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Virginia gubernatorial<\/a> election.<\/p>\n<p>Earle-Sears, who is serving as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia-gop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Lt. Gov. of Virginia\">lieutenant governor of Virginia<\/a> alongside Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), is the first black woman to be elected to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Virginia\">Virginia<\/a> statewide office and the commonwealth&rsquo;s first female lieutenant governor.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3424258\/poll-paxton-cornyn-texas-senate-seat\/\">Poll shows Ken Paxton beating incumbent John Cornyn in heated battle for Texas Senate seat<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3423121\/abigail-spanberger-democratic-candidate-virginia-governor\/\">Who is Abigail Spanberger? Meet the Democratic candidate for Virginia governor<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3422678\/tommy-tuberville-run-alabama-governor-skipping-senate-reelection\/\">Tuberville launches run for Alabama governor, forgoing Senate reelection<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Here&rsquo;s what you need to know about the Republican gubernatorial hopeful.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Age<\/h2>\n<p>Earle-Sears, 61, was born on March 11, 1964.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hometown<\/h2>\n<p>Born in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jamaica\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Kingston, Jamaica\">Kingston, Jamaica<\/a>, Earle-Sears immigrated to the United States at 6 and grew up in the Bronx in New York City. She later moved to Virginia to attend college.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Education<\/h2>\n<p>Earle-Sears has an associate&rsquo;s degree from Tidewater Community College in Virginia, a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in English with a minor in economics from Old Dominion University, and a master&rsquo;s degree in organizational leadership with a concentration in government from Regent University, located in Virginia Beach.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Family and religion<\/h2>\n<p>Earle-Sears and her husband are devout <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/evangelicals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Evangelical Christians\">evangelical Christians<\/a> and have three daughters. One of Earle-Sears&rsquo;s daughters died in a 2012 car crash, along with her two granddaughters.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Books<\/h2>\n<p>Earle-Sears has published two books. The first is a 2009 Christian self-help book titled<em> Stop Being a Christian Wimp!<\/em> The other, <em>How Sweet It Is: Defending the American Dream<\/em>, is a 2023 memoir that details how she relies on her faith, patriotism, and commitment to conservative values while in office.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Occupations<\/h2>\n<p>Earle-Sears was an electrician in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Marines\">Marine Corps<\/a> before starting her career as a businesswoman. She also worked as an electrician, led a men&rsquo;s prison ministry, and was the director of a women&rsquo;s homeless shelter, <a href=\"https:\/\/winsomeforgovernor.com\/learn-more\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">according to her campaign website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3344756\/winsome-earle-sears-virginia-governor-turnover-maga\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">WINSOME EARLE-SEARS FACES SETBACKS AS SHE AIMS TO SUCCEED YOUNGKIN IN VIRGINIA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Earle-Sears has also held several appointments. She was vice president of the Virginia State Board of Education, a presidential appointee to the U.S. Census Bureau as co-chair of the African American Committee, and was appointed to the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans by the secretary of veterans affairs.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Major policy positions<\/h2>\n<p>The death of her daughter, who struggled with mental illness, in 2012 spurred Earle-Sears to fight for mental health funding.<\/p>\n<p>As president of the Virginia Senate, she supported additional funding for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/he-was-accused-of-rape-but-acquitted-then-he-committed-suicide-fearing-rapist-label-would-stick\/\" title=\"He Was Accused Of Rape But Acquitted. Then He Committed Suicide, Fearing \u2018Rapist\u2019 Label Would Stick\">mental health support<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >including behavioral health facilities<\/a>, better pay for mental healthcare workers, school-based support programs, and staff and disability waivers, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtvr.com\/rebound\/you-are-not-alone\/winsome-sears-mental-health-june-09-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">local outlet WTVR<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>According to her <a href=\"https:\/\/winsomeforgovernor.com\/learn-more\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">campaign&rsquo;s website<\/a>, Earle-Sears does not agree with allowing biological men to play in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/womens-sports\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"women&rsquo;s sports\">women&rsquo;s sports<\/a> competitions, saying it is &ldquo;anti-women.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3423121\/abigail-spanberger-democratic-candidate-virginia-governor\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">WHO IS ABIGAIL SPANBERGER? MEET THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR VIRGINIA GOVERNOR<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>She also says she will be tough on crime, calling out Democrats for not doing so. &ldquo;A safe Virginia is a prosperous Virginia,&rdquo; her website reads.<\/p>\n<p>While Earle-Sears has praised President Donald Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency, she has been criticized by some fellow Republicans&nbsp;for not embracing the MAGA movement more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2037371\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2037371\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Who is Winsome Earle-Sears? The Republican candidate for Virginia governor, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R-VA), will compete against former Rep. Abigail Spanberger in the Nov. 4 election. Earle-Sears is the first black woman elected to a statewide office in Virginia and serves alongside Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3821,"featured_media":2439991,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/winsome-earle-sears-salute.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[6571,56016,5894,37279,43398],"class_list":["post-2439990","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-elections","tag-gubernatorial-candidate","tag-politics","tag-virginia-gop","tag-winsome-earle-sears"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/winsome-earle-sears-salute.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2439990","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3821"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2439990"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2439990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2439994,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2439990\/revisions\/2439994"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2439991"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2439990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2439990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2439990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}