Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears of Virginia is poised to make history next year. She could become the nation’s first Black woman to win a gubernatorial election and Virginia’s first female governor.
However, Sears has made it clear that her goal isn’t to make history for the sake of it but to continue the work of progress she believes in.
“I’m not running to make history. I’m just trying to leave it better than I found it,” she told Fox News Digital in an exclusive national interview. “I want everyone to have the same opportunities I had.”
Born in Jamaica and immigrating to the United States at six, Sears has a unique personal story. A former Marine and state lawmaker, she made history in 2021 when she became Virginia’s first female lieutenant governor. Reflecting on her father’s journey, she remarked, “My father came to America in ’63, just 17 days before Dr. King gave his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.
He saw opportunity, even though, as a Black person, you couldn’t live where you wanted.” She added that her father’s belief in the American Dream became a cornerstone of her life and career. “And yet, here I am, sitting right now as second in command in the former capital of the Confederate States,” Sears said. “With me, we can see once again, there are still opportunities, still opportunities to grow. We’re going to be better, not bitter. We’re not going to be victims. We’re overcomers.”
Sears has a powerful ally in Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who made history three years ago by becoming the first Republican in over a decade to win a gubernatorial election in Virginia, a state that had leaned blue in recent cycles.
Youngkin, who cannot run for re-election due to Virginia’s law preventing governors from serving consecutive terms, has been vocal in his support for Sears. “She’s going to be a fabulous governor of Virginia,” Youngkin said, adding, “I have to make sure that we have Winsome Sears as our next governor. I’m going to be campaigning hard.”
Sears has expressed her desire to continue Youngkin’s work, particularly his success in government and business. “We want to continue what he has begun,” she said. “There’s still much work to do, regulations that we’ve got to get rid of, educational opportunities that need to be taken advantage of, and I am the one to carry that because I’ve been part of that.”
Virginia is a bellwether for national politics, as its gubernatorial elections are held the year after a presidential election. With a key election approaching in 2025, both parties closely watch how this race unfolds. In her interview, Sears spoke about her journey with former President Trump.
She noted that she initially found Trump’s rhetoric troubling after the 2022 midterms, mainly after candidates he backed underperformed. However, she changed her stance following the attempted assassination of Trump in July 2023. His words moved Sears after surviving the attack.
“I was waiting to hear a change, and after he was shot and he was accepting the nomination, I heard him say, ‘miracles are happening every day. I am one of those. God has spared my life. And so, I humbly ask for your vote.’ I was on board right then,” she said.
Despite this support, Sears has faced criticism from her party, particularly conservative radio host John Fredericks, a key Trump ally in Virginia.
Fredericks has argued that Sears’ candidacy could harm Republicans’ chances in 2025, calling for a different GOP candidate more closely aligned with Trump’s views. When asked if she would want Trump to campaign with her in Virginia, Sears responded diplomatically, acknowledging his heavy schedule but expressing openness to his support.
“I think he’s going to have much to do in D.C., and if he wants to come here, fine. Suppose he wants to help, fine. I mean, we could use all the help we can get,” she said.
Sears officially launched her gubernatorial bid in September and avoided a competitive primary after Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares announced he would seek re-election rather than run for governor. On the Democratic side, former CIA officer and three-term Rep. Abigail Spanberger is expected to be the party’s candidate. While many anticipate a showdown between Sears and Spanberger in 2025, rumours suggest that Rep. Bobby Scott might also consider a run.
Sears’ views on key issues, such as abortion and IVF, have drawn attention from critics, with the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) highlighting concerns over her stance as being out of touch with Virginia voters. Sears, however, has shrugged off these attacks, insisting that the criticism is merely an attempt by Democrats to undermine her. “I don’t worry about it. I let them say what they want to say. I am proven to do the right thing,” she said.
Sears emphasised that her guiding principles are rooted in her Christian faith, which defines her political approach. “I’ve always said I’m a Christian first and a Republican second,” she said. “That’s always who I am. So, it must mean that I don’t care about politics. I care about serving.”
As she heads into the 2025 gubernatorial race, Sears remains focused on her vision for Virginia’s future. She is determined to prove that her policies offer the state a brighter, more prosperous path, regardless of her critics.
