RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — At a rally in Virginia Beach on Thursday evening, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears officially announced her campaign for the Republican nomination for Virginia governor.
Earle-Sears made history as the first Black Republican woman elected to the Virginia General Assembly in 2002 and was only the second woman of any race to hold statewide office in the Commonwealth.
“Republicans like her, they really do,” said 8News Legal Analyst Rich Meagher. “I certainly think that Republicans have embraced candidates of color in the past few years, particularly in Virginia, and it would be a historic first for Virginia and the country.”
On the Democratic side, Abigail Spanberger is the only announced candidate for governor and could also make history as the state’s first female governor.
“I think the challenge for [Earle-Sears], if she ends up in the general election campaign against Spanberger, is to appeal to moderate Virginia voters,” said Meagher.
Before Earle-Sears potentially faces Spanberger, she could possibly have to contend with Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is rumored to be considering a run for governor. In a statement Thursday, Miyares emphasized that his current focus is on the November 2024 elections and supporting Republican candidates across Virginia.