Winsome Earle-Sears
By Joseph A. Wulfsohn
August 14, 2025
Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., declined CNN’s invitation to hold a debate between herself and her GOP rival, Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, for the commonwealth’s gubernatorial race.
CNN had invited both candidates for a debate to be held in late September or early October. Only Earle-Sears accepted the invitation.
According to her campaign, Spanberger wants only local outlets to host debates rather than national ones like CNN.
By Guest Columnist
August 13, 2025
This year, I have tailored my newsletters to focus on the upcoming election, specifically, where each candidate stands on the issues and what challenges are at stake. This is an election Virginians cannot afford to sit out, as its outcome will have a major impact on how our Commonwealth is governed. With that in mind, I want to focus on the powers of the Governor. Virginia’s system has several unique features that differ not only from our federal government but also from other state governments. It’s important for voters to understand exactly what the Governor’s powers are, how much control they have over state agencies, and how influential they are in the legislative process. Today, I am highlighting two powers that are especially unique to Virginia’s Governor. One of the most significant powers is the appointment of cabinet secretaries (formally, “Secretaries of the Commonwealth” refers to a specific constitutional office, but in practice, this term is often used to mean the Governor’s Cabinet members). These positions are crucial to the operation of Virginia’s agencies. In other states, some equivalent officials are directly elected by the people; however, in Virginia, they are appointed by the Governor and report directly to him, working closely with agencies to implement his policies. While their roles and titles often mirror those of federal cabinet secretaries, there are notable differences in how they are appointed and operate at the state level. In Virginia, both chambers of the General Assembly must agree to confirm a cabinet appointment. If one party controls the House of Delegates and the other controls the Senate, the process often results in concessions or the appointment of more bipartisan candidates. If the chambers cannot agree before the end of the legislative session, the Governor may make an interim appointment that lasts until the next session. These interim appointments are especially impactful because, unlike Congress, the General Assembly typically meets in regular session only once a year. This means a Governor could simply wait until the end of session to appoint someone without legislative approval, allowing that appointee to exercise full authority in the meantime.
By Princess Harrell
August 12, 2025
UPPERVILLE, Va. (7News) — In the 2025 Virginia governor’s race, Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears took her campaign to Northern Virginia on Monday, leading a “Women Win With Winsome” roundtable focused on women’s safety, fairness in sports, and protecting students in schools.
Roughly 100 people, mostly women, filled Buchanan Hall for the event. Speakers included state senator Tara Darant, Fairfax GOP chair Katie Gorka, former Miss Virginia Katie Rose, and others who raised concerns over safety, fairness, and a Title IX investigation into allegations that biological males were allowed in girls’ locker rooms in Northern Virginia schools.
“You can stand up and protect yourself unless a man decides to put on a dress and identify as a woman,” Rose said.
Earle-Sears also renewed her call for voters to remove Fairfax Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano, citing allegations that he released a repeat violent offender who later allegedly tried to abduct a 3-year-old at a mall.
By Henry Graff
August 11, 2025
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) — The Republican nominee for governor of Virginia is giving 12 On Your Side a wide-ranging interview.
Winsome Earle-Sears is launching a new Republican campaign slogan, “Operation Defend and Deliver,” ahead of the fall election.
“So Operation Defend and Deliver, you see it has a military type of title, I am a United States Marine after all, and it’s about defending what we’ve accomplished, defending the people and then continuing to deliver results,” said Earle-Sears.
The current lieutenant governor talked about the issues facing the next commonwealth governor.