Virginia Republicans sound alarm over governor's race: 'It's a disaster'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

07/23/25 5:00 AM ET


Virginia Republicans are raising alarm bells about the state of Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears’s (R) campaign in the state’s closely watched gubernatorial race.

Last week, news broke that Earle-Sears’s campaign manager Will Archer was removed from his post but would remain on her campaign in a different capacity. The development came as polls show Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger in the lead.

Now, some Republicans are warning that further shake-ups are needed if they want to win in what is seen as the most significant bellwether this year.

“From my vantage point and the people we’re talking to, it’s a disaster,” said one Virginia Republican operative who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5413919-earle-sears-campaign-struggles-continue/

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Couldn't pass up that headline.

Keep forgetting that VA has 1-term governors and hadn't heard much about who was running for the (R)s. IIRC, Abigail Spanberger is running for the (D)s and am crossing fingers that VA wakes up and throws the (R) bums out.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Ahh This Makes me happy!

There are three bellweathers this year:

VA Governors Race
NJ Governors Race (some say it's a change election - I'm not so sure about that), as well has Assembly and Senate.
PA - Judges

If we wipe the floor with them in November - then we need to prepare for every single dirty trick the maga pubs could use to steal 2026. Actually - we need to start now.

So happy my Governor (Murphy) and Newsom are bringing a flame thrower to the maga Pub knife fight.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Murphy has a corporate banking/investment business background

so he knows the cutthroat tactics.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. You betcha

And he has a secret weapon - Tammy. I was part of her debate prep team last year. Two of the nicest people in NJ. We've been super lucky to have them the past 8 years.

[angrychair]

14. Judges are a little different

But it will be interesting to watch what Pennsylvania does because I worry it may be lost to us.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

2. This will be an easy win for Dems

Youngkin’s election was an anomaly - people were really unhappy with the COVID school closures as well as Terry McAuliffe’s statement about parents having a say in schools.

[underpants]

5. Abbie's tough to beat.

I’ve met her and she is the real deal. She’ll be on the national ticket pretty soon after she’s been a Governor.

[underpants]

6. That was a very enjoyable read. Sears is a joke and they knew that.

They had to nominate her. Gee Fredericks (we don’t get his show around here that I know of) isn’t a fan of this ticket. 🤔

The Virginia Dems have repeatedly put Abbie in tight races for a reason. Now she’s running for the whole state. She’s incredibly impressive.

[displacedvermoter]

7. Very serendipitous

I am working on postcards for Virginia voters as I read this!

[twodogsbarking]

8. Virginia is for lovers.

Huh?

[Norrrm]

9. Sears is double DEI acc to her own party... female and black.

[AverageOldGuy]

11. Female, black, and an immigrant.

Plus, she has a really awesome rifle. (From her 2021 campaign.)

[BumRushDaShow]

12. She should have a word with Candace Owens

[Skittles]

19. what is she trying to prove there

UGH

[AverageOldGuy]

10. Here's a lesson from Virginia that we all need to heed

It's about TURNOUT. AS IN: GET DEMOCRATIC VOTERS TO THE POLLS.

Background. Virginia elects state and local officials in odd-numbered years -- 2017, 2019, 2021, . . .

With that in mind, let's compare the Virginia 2020 Presidential election (won by Biden) with the 2021 Gubernatorial election, won by Republicans.

2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN VIRGINIA
Biden 2,413,568
Trump 1,962,430
Turnout 81%

2021 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION IN VIRGINIA
Youngkin 1,663,596 Difference from Trump: -15%
McAuliffe 1,600,116 Difference from Biden: -34%
Turnout 58%

Notice two facts:
-- Fewer voters, both D and R, voted in 2021 than in 2020.
-- TWICE AS MANY DEMOCRATIC VOTERS STAYED HOME AS REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

In 2021, the Republican candidate drew 15% fewer votes than did Trump.
Meanwhile, the Democratic candidate drew 34 % fewer votes than did Biden.
Yes, there were other factors at play but nothing can overcome voters who stay home. In fact, if you run the same data for Virginia elections, you find that in every gubernatorial election year when compared to the preceding Presidential year, the same pattern holds -- more Democrats stay home during the gubernatorial election than voted during the preceding Presidential election.

The morale of this story: GET OUT THE VOTE -- because Republicans vote while we Democrats stay home, voting only in Presidential elections.

[wolfie001]

13. Electing that piece of shit Dumbkin and his Generalissimo Att. Gen was a bigger disaster

I can't believe so many Virginians are that stupid. Plenty of racists down there, but I didn't think it was quite so many. Embarrassing. I sure as shit hope they've turned a new leaf and stop being pieces of shit like Dumbkin.

[Skittles]

18. I wonder about their stupidity too but.....

I live in Texas so I am very much used to it

[wolfie001]

20. Crazy frustrating

[alison_in_nc]

15. A little something from 2018

This doesn't get old.

?si=ENCq1OLkBOeHl-Yj

[Martin68]

16. They often manage to fuck things up. Youngkin messed up his own chances to run for president by by throwing in his lot

100% with Trump. He was elected governor by exploiting totally manufactured concern about schools.

[whopis01]

17. Winsome lose some... n/t