Latest news with #WinsomeEarle-Sears
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Monday's Campaign Round-Up, 6.2.25: Abigail Spanberger hits the airwaves in Virginia race
Today's installment of campaign-related news items from across the country. * With 22 weeks to go in Virginia's closely watched gubernatorial race, former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger has launched her first television ad of the election cycle. Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears has already launched two ads for her own. * In Alabama, with Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville forgoing re-election to run for governor, the GOP field to run for his Senate seat is growing. State Attorney General Steve Marshall threw his hat into the ring late last week. * In Michigan's gubernatorial race, the Democratic Governors Association Victory Fund began airing an ad last week targeting Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who was elected as a Democrat but is now running as an independent. * Amid speculation about the Democrat's possible presidential ambitions, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut is launching the American Mobilization Project, a new political action committee focused on opposing the Republican agenda. * Annie Andrews, a Democratic pediatrician who ran for Congress unsuccessfully in 2022, kicked off her first U.S. Senate campaign last week, hoping to take on Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham in his 2026 re-election race. * While Politico reported last week that former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown was unlikely to run again for the Senate, the Ohioan's spokesperson soon after said the report was 'untrue,' adding that Brown 'is considering all his options and hasn't ruled anything out.' * And while June tends not to be an especially busy month for elections, Bolts magazine published a rundown of the races worth watching this month, starting with gubernatorial primaries in New Jersey next week. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spanberger leads Earle-Sears in Roanoke College Poll
Washington (DC News Now) — We are getting an early-look at the November Gubernatorial matchup in Virginia. A new poll released by Roanoke College shows Democratic nominee, Abigail Spanberger, ahead of Republican, Winsome Earle-Sears, 43% to 26%. 28% of registered voters are undecided, while 3% say they would vote for someone else. Dr. Harry Wilson is the Interim Director for the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research at Roanoke College. He breaks down this new poll. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Virginia Republican candidate for governor addresses grads at extremely anti-LGBTQ+ schools
Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, now the Republican nominee for governor, continues to cement her far-right platform with appearances at two schools that openly denounce LGBTQ+ people and reproductive freedom. Her commencement speech at Regent University and an upcoming one at Atlantic Shores Christian School, a private pre-k through 12 institution, are the latest signals that she is not moderating her views for a general election campaign — she's leaning in. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. Regent's official doctrine affirms that marriage exists only between one man and one woman and opposes abortion in nearly all cases, asserting that life begins at conception. Its facilities may not be used for anything deemed inconsistent with its interpretation of biblical teachings, including affirming same-sex relationships or transgender identities. Regents holds that abortion is 'tantamount to murder.' The school's Christian Community and Mission Policy, approved by its board of trustees in 2023, defines the school as a Christian ministry where every employee is a commissioned minister and every activity, academic or otherwise, is considered an act of worship. The school's policies prohibit 'homosexual conduct,' which they categorize alongside 'pornography, premarital sex, adultery,' and 'lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct,' and require all student leaders and employees to adhere to its biblical code of sexual ethics strictly. Earlier this month, Earle-Sears spoke at Regent University, where she earned an M.A. in 2003. The late televangelist and longtime anti-LGBTQ+ firebrand Pat Robertson founded the school in 1977. Related: Winsome Earle-Sears: The anti-LGBTQ+ ultraconservative Republican trying to replace Virginia's governor Robertson, who launched the school in 1977, didn't just preach it — he politicized it. He infamously blamed 'abortionists, feminists, gays and lesbians' for the 9/11 attacks, saying America had invited God's wrath. These beliefs remain embedded in the culture and code of the university where Earle-Sears chose to deliver a celebratory address. Earle-Sears is scheduled to stand at the podium again on June 6 — this time at Atlantic Shores Christian School in Chesapeake, another institution whose statement of faith declares that homosexuality and bisexuality are 'sinful and prohibited.' These are not isolated incidents. They are consistent with Earle-Sears' long record of pushing anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policy. Last year, she wrote a personal note of moral opposition on HB174, a bill passed by the General Assembly to prohibit marriage discrimination, Washington, D.C., NBC affiliate WRC reports. The bill protects couples from being denied a license based on sex, gender, or race. Earle-Sears, required by her state constitutional role to sign it, instead added a handwritten message declaring her personal opposition. Related: Virginia lieutenant governor offers awkward 'apology' after misgendering trans lawmaker Danica Roem Her campaign has also made national headlines for an incendiary fundraising email comparing DEI programs to slavery. 'Slaves did not die in the fields so that we could call ourselves victims now,' the email read. The campaign did not disavow the language. Video from 2023 shows her delivering the same message aloud, Politico reports. At the same time, the state GOP is embroiled in a separate identity crisis. John Reid, Virginia's first out gay Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, has accused Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's political operation of attempting to force him off the ticket. Reid alleges Youngkin's PAC offered to suppress opposition research in exchange for his withdrawal — claims Youngkin has not addressed. Earle-Sears canceled joint events with Reid. Last year, Earle-Sears apologized after she misgendered Sen. Danica Roem, the first out transgender state senator in Virginia. Virginia currently has some of the strongest LGBTQ+ protections in the South.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Earle-Sears ‘morally opposed' to Virginia's reproductive rights amendment, note shows
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury) Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears signed Virginia's in-progress reproductive rights constitutional amendment, but noted her personal objection to it in a handwritten note on the bill. As president of the Senate, she is legally required to sign bills that the legislature passes but she doesn't have to add any comment to her signatures. Documents obtained by The Mercury show her explanation for why she is against Virginia's effort to protect reproductive rights like abortion, in vitro fertilization and contraception access in Virginia's Constitution. 'I am morally opposed to this bill; no protection for the child,' she wrote above her signature. It is the second known message Earle-Sears has penned on a bill she signed but disagreed with — the first being her note of objection scrawled on a bill last year that would prohibit officials from denying marriage licenses to same-sex or interracial couples, as The Virginia Scope first reported. It is also one of the clearest signals Earle-Sears has sent concerning her views on abortion and reproductive health care since beginning her campaign for governor. A Sears campaign representative the Mercury reached Thursday afternoon said Earle-Sears had no comment on the matter. SJR 247 Handwritten Notes While Earle-Sears' appearance as a keynote speaker at the Virginia March For Life has already solidified her stance in opposition to proposals that would protect abortion access in Virginia, she's yet to speak in depth about where she may hold nuanced views on reproductive matters. Virginia March For Life tees up constitutional amendment ahead of this year's elections Abortion access is one of the most politically divisive issues in the state, as Democrats work to shore up protections while Republicans largely support anti-abortion measures, with some GOP members of the legislature having carried life-at-conception bills. In the 2023 elections, many Republicans supported a proposal backed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest or life-threatening situations for the parent. It lacked fetal anomaly exceptions — several of which aren't diagnosed until at or after 15 weeks. Early in her 2021 campaign for liuetenant governor, Earle-Sears had called abortion 'genocide' and objected to the procedure in all instances, except for ones that could save the life of the pregnant person. Just over a month before the 2021 elections, she'd scrubbed anti-abortion messaging from her campaign website where she'd vowed to 'do everything in my power' to stop abortions in Virginia. Because Earle-Sears' 2021 campaign occurred before federal abortion protections were overturned, stating an opinion against abortion was more a signal to like-minded voters than a legislative promise to eradicate it. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal protections in 2022, the matter has become more salient in campaigns. Some states have fortified protections while others have enacted bans or restrictions. Virginia is currently the least-restrictive state in the south. As Virginia's constitutional amendment has already passed the legislature once, it must do so again next year before appearing on ballots statewide for voters to finally approve or reject. That progress, however, hinges on Democrats retaining their majority in the House of Delegates this year, because the amendment has only advanced on partisan lines. Governors don't formally advance or block constitutional amendments, but should Virginia's fail to advance, the next governor will be able to sign potential attempts to restrict or ban abortions within state code. With Earle-Sears gubernatorial opponent Abigail Spanberger in support of reproductive healthcare access — to include abortions, contraception and fertility treatments — their divergences on the issue may be a deciding factor for some voters later this year. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Early voting begins for Virginia Democratic primaries: What to know before heading to the polls
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. () — Early voting for the 2025 Virginia Democratic primaries kicked off May 2 in Fairfax County, as the party searches for a new candidate to replace Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. This year's primaries will determine who will potentially fill the seats for lieutenant governor and attorney general. Officials noted that there will not be a Republican primary in Fairfax County because there is only one GOP candidate for each office on the November ballot. This comes after the Fairfax County Supervisor for health reasons. Is Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears still the GOP favorite after governor's race shakeup? On Thursday, the Republican Party of Virginia , saying in part; 'All the attention in this race should be on the extremism of Virginia Democrats and their far-left vision for our Commonwealth. Our focus remains on the future, and we will dedicate every effort to supporting our nominees and making the case for why Virginians need more common-sense conservative leadership.' In November, voters will cast ballots for these statewide offices, as well as the governor, and seats in the Virginia House of Delegates. Fairfax County Government Center | 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, Room 2/3 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays on June 7 and 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mount Vernon and North County Governmental Centers Mount Vernon | 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria North County| 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston On weekdays, both voting centers will open from 1-7 p.m., and on Saturdays, June 7 and 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Analyst: Youngkin made a 'big mistake' asking Reid to drop out of lieutenant governor race During the early voting period, voters can cast their ballots at libraries and community centers across the county. Libraries: Burke Centre, Centreville Regional, Great Falls, Herndon Fortnightly, Tysons-Pimmit and Thomas Jefferson Community Centers: Franconia, Lorton, Mason, McLean, Sully, West Springfield and Jim Scott Officials said an additional 13 locations will open on June 7. Election day will be held on June 17, and polls will open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters must cast their ballots at their . When voting in person, all voters must show a , according to the Virginia law. Voters who do not have an ID can sign an ID Confirmation Statement and cast a regular ballot. All ballot drop boxes will be available during voting hours. A 24/7 drop box is located outside the Fairfax County Government Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
