By: Trinity Merritt
The Virginia Gubernatorial race is proving to be one of the most closely watched political competitions nationwide this year.
In 2025, only the Commonwealth and New Jersey have the governor position up-for-grabs, with both races appearing to be a “toss-up” according to Cook Political. The Virginia race, however, seems to depend on whether Republican candidate, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, can remain cordial.
In November 2024, Virginian Governor Glenn Youngkin announced his support for Earle-Sears, the first African American woman to hold a state office in Virginia, claiming that a vote for Earle-Sears is a vote for conservative views.
“Winsome has been an outstanding Lt. Governor, and she will be a great governor,” Youngkin wrote in a post on the social platform X.
Despite his overwhelming support, many Virginians found Earle-Sears’ newest campaign slogan, “Don’t Maryland my Virginia,” to be controversial, sparking fierce debates on social media between the neighboring states. The campaign slams Maryland’s high tax and crime rates — citing Democratic leadership as the source of these issues.
“Virginia Democrats, like Abigail Spanberger, want to turn us into Maryland 2.0 — higher taxes, criminals before victims, and radical agendas in our schools,” Earle-Sears wrote on her campaign’s Facebook page. “Not. On. My. Watch.”
Before February, Earle-Sears was projected to be the clear winner for the Commonwealth. However, the Republican campaign grew crowded after heavy-hitter Dave La Rock, a former state delegate joined the race.
La Rock plans to implement the same strategies for Virginia’s government as Elon Musk’s DOGE in the Trump Administration.
Soon after La Rock’s entrance into the race, former state senator Amanda Chase also announced her intentions to run, promptly bashing Earle-Sears for being a “never Trumper.”
“Our current announced Republican nominee is a Never Trumper who has really never come out and embraced our President, President Donald J. Trump,” Chase wrote in her campaign announcement. “…We want a Trump candidate for governor.”
With the primaries only three months away, it is unclear whether La Rock or Chase will have enough signatures to qualify for a space on the ballot by next month’s deadline.