On the Record: Winsome Earle-Sears’ views on Virginia’s most pressing issues

AfterfouryearspresidingoverthestateSenate,Lt.Gov.WinsomeEarle-Searsisattemptingtomaketheleaptothegovernor’smansionthisfall.TheRepublicancandidateisrunningonaplatformofconservativevaluesandhercampaignlargelymirrorsthethemesthatbroughtGov.GlennYoungkinvictoryin2021—parents’rights,fiscalresponsibilityanddefendingpersonalfreedoms. FormostoftheyearshehastrailedDemocraticopponentAbigailSpanbergerinfundraisingandpopularity,thoughtheraceappearstobetightening.AccordingtoanAugustRoanokeCollegepoll,39%oflikelyVirginiavoterssaidtheywouldchooseEarle-Searsand46%wouldpickSpanberger.Inthespring,just26%percentsaidthey’dselectEarle-SearscomparedtoSpanberger’s43%ofthevote.Earle-Sears’campaignhasraisedover$11.5million,accordingtoherlatestcampaignfinancefilings,with$4.5millionincashonhand.Spanbergerhasraisedover$27millionandhasmorethan$15millioninthepot. AnimmigrantfromJamaicawhosebackgroundandpolicypositionsar