With just hours left before Virginians cast their votes in one of the most closely-watched gubernatorial races in the nation, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears is not softening her message. She’s doubling down — on crime, on character, and on the core values she says are under threat from a Democratic Party that has, in her words, “lost touch with reality.”
In a blunt and unapologetic interview with The Daily Wire, Earle-Sears laid out the stakes: taxes, safety, and leadership — and her opponent, former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, doesn’t pass the test.
Spanberger is campaigning as a moderate, but Earle-Sears isn’t buying it. “She wants to make Virginia a sanctuary state,” she warned. “If you’re a criminal and here illegally, you’re going to get sanctuary. She voted to keep our borders open. She voted for it. I’m not guessing — it’s on the record.”
The contrast is sharp and personal. Earle-Sears, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and immigrant from Jamaica, has grounded her campaign in a vision of American opportunity — a vision, she argues, that depends on order, personal responsibility, and leaders with moral clarity. In that light, her criticism of Spanberger’s alliances — particularly her refusal to denounce Democratic Attorney General nominee Jay Jones — is more than political sparring. It’s a character test.
Jones is under national scrutiny for grotesque, violent texts unearthed from 2022, in which he fantasized about murdering his Republican rival and watching his children die. “Here you have a man running for political office who advocated the murder of his opponent and his children,” Earle-Sears said. “And Spanberger won’t say he should drop out. That’s not just cowardice — that’s political calculation. That’s hunger for power.”
Spanberger’s own rhetoric hasn’t helped her case. In a moment clipped from a recent rally, she urged supporters to “let your rage fuel you.” For Earle-Sears, that phrase is revealing. “What rage? Against who? What exactly is she telling people to do?”
While polls show Spanberger with a narrow lead, Earle-Sears argues the numbers are misleading — “media polls straight from the Democrats,” as she puts it. She cites internal footage of Spanberger herself admitting the race is a toss-up. “For once, I agree with her,” Earle-Sears quips. “Too bad the media doesn’t.”
Beyond the headlines, Earle-Sears’ broader message taps into a deeper unease felt by many Virginians: a fear that safety, stability, and decency are slipping away. “We just want peace and quiet,” she said. “You go do your thing, I’ll do mine. But Democrats won’t leave people alone. They preach tolerance until you disagree with them.”
The presence of national figures only underscores the race’s national implications. Barack Obama has appeared with Spanberger, calling her a defender of “freedom” and “rights.” But Earle-Sears will close with a virtual rally headlined by Donald Trump — a reminder that this race is a litmus test for where the Republican base stands heading into the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential cycle.
In a race that’s been defined by contrast, controversy, and clarity, the choice now lies with Virginia voters. Will they choose the disciplined conviction of Earle-Sears, or the practiced moderation of Spanberger? One thing’s certain: no one can say the stakes weren’t clear.
