Virginia gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears led the state’s Republican ticket in delivering a final message to voters Monday ahead of Election Day, emphasizing her record alongside Governor Glenn Youngkin and positioning her opponent, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, as inexperienced and “soft on crime.”
According to Fox News, Earle-Sears spoke at a campaign event inside a Virginia diner, responding to a reporter’s question about how she would pitch herself to undecided voters.
“Do you like what we’ve been doing in Virginia? Well, Abigail Spanberger was never part of it. She hasn’t been part of creating any of these jobs. She hasn’t been part of helping Virginia to remain safe and secure,” Earle-Sears said.
She then handed the question to Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is running to keep his position. Miyares highlighted economic growth and job creation under the Youngkin-Earle-Sears administration:
“We’ve seen the most remarkable four-year turnaround that any state has seen in modern American history,” he said. “We’ve gone from almost the bottom in job creation, we’ve been one of the last to open our schools. We had eight straight years up until 2021 of more individuals moving out of Virginia than moving to Virginia, something that had not happened in over 100 years.”
“And you’ve seen this remarkable turnaround. $140 billion in new investment that’s coming to Virginia. That’s greater than the last four governors combined. One and a half job openings for every Virginian looking for a job. The highest labor force participation rate we’ve ever seen,” Miyares added.
The attorney general also cited his record on public safety, saying he reduced murder rates that were at a 20-year high when he took office and put “more cops on the streets” to target repeat violent offenders.
The Monday event came after Spanberger rallied in Falls Church on Sunday night with Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, as Democrats sought to keep Earle-Sears tied up in the state capital during the campaign’s final days.
Earle-Sears’ husband, Terence Sears, criticized Democrats for what he called tactics designed to limit her campaign appearances:
“I was p—– off because of what the Democrats have done to my wife,” Sears said at an Oct. 31 rally. “And let me tell you that I’m thoroughly p—– off now.”
“She would’ve loved to have been here with you, but you see the games that they’re playing and the shenanigans that they’re pulling to keep her off the campaign trail.… If you do not want to become Maryland or California, then you need to get out there and vote,” he added.
