{"id":2504512,"date":"2025-10-29T18:05:02","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T22:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/earle-sears-forced-off-campaign-trail-due-to-election-interference\/"},"modified":"2025-10-29T18:06:33","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T22:06:33","slug":"earle-sears-forced-off-campaign-trail-due-to-election-interference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/earle-sears-forced-off-campaign-trail-due-to-election-interference\/","title":{"rendered":"Earle-Sears forced off campaign trail due to \u2018election interference\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/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%2Fearle-sears-forced-off-campaign-trail-due-to-election-interference%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=2504512&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>Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears has been forced off the campaign trail less than a week before Election Day due to a special legislative session called by Democrats to address redistricting. This unexpected move has sparked Republican outrage, accusing Democrats of political maneuvering intended to hinder Earle-Sears&#8217;s campaign at a critical time. At a campaign event in Charlottesville, Earle-Sears&#8217;s husband and Republican officials spoke in her stead, condemning the session as election interference and a betrayal of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >voter-approved bipartisan redistricting efforts<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Earle-Sears, who presides over the Virginia Senate, justified her return to Richmond as a duty to ensure transparency and fairness in elections. Supporters expressed disappointment at her absence but understood the necessity. Meanwhile, Democrats advanced a resolution to allow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-york-redistricting-lawsuit-could-cost-congressional-republicans-up-to-six-house-seats\/\" title=\"NY ... Lawsuit May Result in GOP Losing Six House Seats\">mid-decade redistricting<\/a>, adding to the partisan conflict. Polls show Earle-Sears trailing her opponent, Abigail Spanberger, by about seven points as the election nears. The situation injects uncertainty into the final days of the campaign amid ongoing political battles over redistricting and election fairness in Virginia.  <\/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\">Winsome Earle-Sears forced off campaign trail due to Virginia redistricting battle<\/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\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2387247\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA &ndash; <\/strong>Virginia Lt. Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/winsome-earle-sears\/\">Winsome Earle-Sears<\/a>&lsquo;s campaign is having to carry on without her, with less than one week before <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/election-day\/\">Election Day<\/a>, after Democrats&rsquo; surprise redistricting move called her back to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/richmond\/\">Richmond<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The move from Democrats, the latest in a string of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/redistricting\/\">redistricting efforts<\/a> from both parties, set off a wave of Republican outrage and confusion among voters gathered to see her at a campaign stop in the central part of the state. At a coffee shop in Charlottesville, where Earle-Sears had been scheduled to campaign Tuesday afternoon, her husband Terence Sears took the stage in her place, joined by Rep. John McGuire (R-VA) and Republican lieutenant governor candidate John Reid.<\/p>\n<p>The event was the third one Earle-Sears has had to forgo due to the special session. Despite her absence, supporters packed the room, waving signs and snapping photos as the two men denounced a calculated political maneuver to keep the GOP&rsquo;s top statewide candidate off the trail during her crucial final week.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3868563\/tom-suozzi-cuomo-endorsement-nyc-mayor\/\">Mamdani critic Suozzi endorses Cuomo for NYC mayor<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3868158\/california-doug-lamalfa-proposition-50-silence-rural-voices\/\">Doug LaMalfa warns Proposition 50 could silence California&#8217;s rural voices<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3867319\/key-people-to-watch-looming-2025-virginia-elections\/\">Key people to watch in looming 2025 Virginia elections<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>McGuire told the crowd that Democrats &ldquo;knew exactly what they were doing&rdquo; by calling the General Assembly back into session.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They called that special session this week right now so that she can&rsquo;t be on the campaign trail,&rdquo; he said, drawing shouts of agreement from the audience. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s election interference, plain and simple.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He argued that Democrats were undermining the bipartisan redistricting process Virginians <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/lis.virginia.gov\/bill-details\/20201\/SB358\">approved by referendum<\/a> in 2020, warning that the move marked &ldquo;a betrayal of the voters&rsquo; will.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Virginia had spoken,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Voters wanted to pick their elected officials, not have elected officials pick their voters. Now Democrats want to rewrite the rules in the middle of the game.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Reid, who is running alongside Sears as the GOP&rsquo;s candidate for lieutenant governor, called the timing &ldquo;crass&rdquo; and &ldquo;offensive,&rdquo; saying it violated Virginia&rsquo;s long tradition of a part-time citizen legislature.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s wrong for the Democrats in Virginia to prevent her from being able to campaign in the last week,&rdquo; Reid said. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re deliberately using the power the people gave them for their own political best interests.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">John Reid, who is running alongside Earle-Sears as the GOP&rsquo;s candidate for lieutenant governor, shakes hands with a voter at a campaign event on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (Samantha-Jo Roth, Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>He added that the Democratic leadership &ldquo;doesn&rsquo;t care about the Virginia traditions,&rdquo; and that their actions showed &ldquo;they&rsquo;re deliberately using the power that the people have given them for their own political best interests.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The accusations came just hours after lawmakers returned to the Capitol for what quickly <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3866032\/virginia-election-key-issues-what-to-know\/\">devolved into a partisan showdown<\/a> over the state&rsquo;s congressional map. In a procedural move caught Republicans off guard, House Democrats advanced a resolution paving the way for a constitutional amendment that would give lawmakers authority to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/larry-elder-obama-rails-against-texas-redistricting-but-just-look-what-jumpstarted-his-entire-career\/\" title=\"Larry Elder: Obama Rails Against Texas ..., But Just Look What Jumpstarted His Entire Career\">redraw congressional districts mid-decade<\/a>. The Senate is expected to take up the measure in the coming days.<\/p>\n<p>Earle-Sears, who presides over the Senate, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3865608\/earle-sears-virginia-redistricting-amendment-illegal\/\">said she had a duty to return to Richmond<\/a>, even as it forced her off the campaign trail at a pivotal moment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Virginians deserve transparency, fairness, and integrity in their elections,&rdquo; she said at a Monday press conference. &ldquo;They deserve to know that no matter who holds office, their vote will count the same as anyone else&rsquo;s. I left the campaign trail because my duty is here, in this building, with the people&rsquo;s Senate.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Earle-Sears&rsquo; husband, Terence Sears, stepped in for her at the Charlottesville event, delivering a deeply personal message that mixed biography, faith, and determination. Speaking to a packed coffeehouse, he described watching his wife&rsquo;s rise from Jamaican immigrant to Marine veteran and statewide officeholder, calling her story &ldquo;a testament to God&rsquo;s plan.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Sometimes when I&rsquo;m with her and she&rsquo;s up here speaking, I&rsquo;m sitting in the back and I&rsquo;m holding back tears because of the things that God has done in her life, and this journey that we&rsquo;ve been on together for the last 39 years,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Terence Sears stepped in for his wife at the Charlottesville event, speaking to voters on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (Samantha-Jo Roth, Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>He praised her record of public service, from women&rsquo;s ministry work to her years on the state Board of Education, and said attacks on her identity had only deepened her resolve.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They have called her everything but a child of God,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;My wife loves the Lord first. She&rsquo;s not a politician. She is a public servant, and that&rsquo;s the way she sees her job, to serve you, the public, Black, white, Asian, Hispanic, whatever.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Some voters said they were disappointed by her absence but understood her decision to return to Richmond.<\/p>\n<p>Camila Carter, 64, of Louisa, said she had been looking forward to hearing Sears speak in person.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I was sad she didn&rsquo;t come to this event,&rdquo; Carter said. &ldquo;But hopefully things will straighten out where this won&rsquo;t happen in the future. I&rsquo;m glad she&rsquo;s at the state Capitol now. This is another trick from Democrats trying to keep what&rsquo;s good from coming to Virginia.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ab Brown, an 82-year-old retiree from Albemarle County, said he respected the lieutenant governor&rsquo;s sense of duty.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m disappointed she wasn&rsquo;t here today, but I also understand that duty called,&rdquo; Brown said. &ldquo;She&rsquo;s got to do her job regardless, so she&rsquo;s still meeting her responsibilities, even if it took a little bit of a cost away from her because she left the campaign trail.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The event ended with applause and calls for unity as Republican volunteers passed out yard signs near the door. Earle-Sears&rsquo; sudden absence has injected new uncertainty into the race, with early voting set to end Saturday.<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>Campaign aides for the Republican nominee told the&nbsp;<em>Washington Examiner<\/em>&nbsp;that Earle-Sears&rsquo;s schedule is up in the air for future events as the special session plays out.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3866032\/virginia-election-key-issues-what-to-know\/\">WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUES DOMINATING THE VIRGINIA ELECTION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>According to the latest RealClearPolitics <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.realclearpolling.com\/polls\/governor\/general\/2025\/virginia\/spanberger-vs-earle-sears\">average<\/a>, Spanberger leads Earle-Sears 50.6% to 43.5%, a 7.1-point advantage that has remained largely steady through October. Individual surveys show a similar margin, with Christopher Newport University putting Spanberger ahead by seven points, Suffolk University by nine, and Quantus Insights by five.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/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>Earle-Sears pulled from campaign by Virginia redistricting fight<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2504513,"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\/10\/IMG_7671-2-e1761773618265.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[33933,40299,32119],"class_list":["post-2504512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-campaign-trail","tag-earle-sears","tag-election-interference"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/IMG_7671-2-e1761773618265.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2504512","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\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2504512"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2504512\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2504516,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2504512\/revisions\/2504516"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2504513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2504512"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2504512"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2504512"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}