The race for Virginia governor is set, teeing up what is expected to be a competitive contest in the blue-leaning swing state.
The Virginia GOP announced Saturday that Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a Marine Corps veteran, will be the Republican Party’s nominee after no other candidate qualified to run.
Like all Virginia governors, outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin is barred from serving back-to-back terms, and he endorsed Earle-Sears as his successor early in the process.
“Over the past four years, Lt. Gov. Sears has been a fierce advocate for Virginians’ individual liberties and worked hard to put money back into the pockets of Virginia families,” the announcement on X said. “Winsome Sears will be a governor for all Virginians, and the Republican Party of Virginia congratulates her on becoming our nominee.”
That sets up Earle-Sears to go up against the Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger, who was also the lone candidate to qualify on her side. The former member of Congress and one-time CIA officer was confirmed by the Democratic Party of Virginia earlier this week.
The contest all-but-guarantees that Virginia will elect its first female governor in history. Should Earle-Sears win, she would be the first Black woman elected governor anywhere in America.
Another Republican hopeful — the self-proclaimed “Trump in heels,” former state Sen. Amanda Chase — had submitted paperwork to run, but it was unclear at the time if she met the qualifications. The announcement from the Virginia GOP confirmed Earle-Sears as the lone candidate to qualify for the Republican primary.
Chase had ran against Youngkin — then a little-known private equity exec — in the 2021 GOP primary convention, finishing third.
The off-year contest has long been seen as an early bellwether for the party in power in Washington, along with the other gubernatorial race this year in New Jersey. Historically, the party that loses the presidential race the year before almost always wins in Richmond.
But President Donald Trump made unexpected inroads with the state in 2024, though the state ultimately went for former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Youngkin was elected four years ago in an upset over former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat who was attempting a rarely-tried comeback in the state. Youngkin kept Trump at arm’s length during his election in 2021, and repeatedly teased a presidential run in 2024.
But since the start of Trump’s second term, he has been a reliable ally for the president.
“I’m proud to officially be the Republican nominee for Governor of Virginia,” Earle-Sears wrote on X. “We’ve made great progress over the past four years, but the fight for our Commonwealth is far from over. I’m ready to lead that fight and build a safer, stronger, more prosperous Virginia for every family.”
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