Republicans are already calling the closely watched Virginia governor’s race as a loss.
The most recent poll from Virginia Commonwealth University shows former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger leading Virginia’s Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears 49% to 37%.
The latest campaign finance disclosures also show that Spanberger has triple the amount of cash on hand as Earle-Sears: $15.2 million to her GOP rival’s $4.5 million. According to Spanberger’s campaign, the Democratic nominee has raised more than $27 million since launching her campaign for governor in November 2023.
Virginia’s gubernatorial campaign is one of two this year; the other is in New Jersey. The races could be an indicator of what to expect in the 2026 midterm elections, which will feature 36 gubernatorial races.
Dismal polling coupled with Earle-Sears’ low fundraising has some Republicans losing faith that the party’s gubernatorial candidate can pull off a win in Virginia this November.
One Republican strategist told Politico that the race is an indicator of the trickle-down effects of Elon Musk and DOGE’s actions.
“I’ve always had concerns about this race, but not because of Winsome, just because of the overall environment,” said the Republican strategist. “I expected to be where we are, and when I saw a lot of the DOGE activities and Elon Musk activities having a major impact on Northern Virginia, it gave me even more of a concern.”
In an interview with The Hill, conservative talk show host John Fredericks compared Earle-Sears’s campaign to a “clown car.”
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“This thing is a clown car she’s got going on,” Fredericks said. “And it’s frustrating everyone in Virginia.”
Politico reported that Earle-Sears’ campaign plans to announce staff changes this week. Sears has already reassigned her campaign manager, Will Archer, and her political director, Richard Wagner, recently left the campaign.
Earle-Sears has already been in a bit of controversy for previously invoking slavery to criticize diversity programs. She also has a record of anti-LGBTQ+ positions and for being “morally opposed” to abortion.
