Winsome Earle-Sears
Winsome Earle-Sears | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2022 | |
| 42nd Lieutenant Governor of Virginia | |
| Assumed office January 15, 2022 | |
| Governor | Glenn Youngkin |
| Preceded by | Justin Fairfax |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 90th district | |
| In office January 13, 2002 – January 14, 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Billy Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Algie Howell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Winsome Earle March 11, 1964 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Political party | Republican (since 1988) |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (before 1988)[1] |
| Spouse(s) | Terence Sears |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Tidewater Community College Old Dominion University Regent University |
| Signature | |
| Website | Official website Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1983–1986 |
| Rank | Corporal |
Winsome Earle-Sears (born March 11, 1964) is an Jamaican-American politician and Marine Corps veteran serving as the 42nd lieutenant governor of Virginia since 2022. She is the first woman and woman of color ever elected to this office. A member of the Republican Party, she served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 to 2004.[2][3]
She also served on the Virginia Board of Education. She unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Congress in Virginia's 3rd congressional district in 2004 and for U.S. Senate in 2018. In 2021, Sears was elected as lieutenant governor, defeating Democratic nominee Hala Ayala.
In September 2024, Sears announced her candidacy for governor in the 2025 gubernatorial election.[4] She became the Republican nominee in April 2025. If she wins, she will be the state's first female governor, and the first Black woman to be elected governor ever in U.S. history.[5]
Biography
Early life, education and career
Winsome Earle was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on March 11, 1964. She immigrated to the United States at the age of six,[6] and grew up in the Bronx, New York City.[7] She earned an associate of arts degree from Tidewater Community College, a bachelor of arts in English with a minor in economics from Old Dominion University, and a master of arts in organizational leadership from Regent University.[8][9]
Earle served as an electrician in the United States Marines from 1983 to 1986.[10] Before running for public office, she directed a Salvation Army homeless shelter.[11]
Personal life
Sears is married to Terence Sears,[12] they have three children. One of her children died in a 2012 car crash, along with her two grandchildren.[13] She is a Christian,[14] and authored a Christian self-help book, Stop Being a Christian Wimp!, before entering politics.[15][16]
References
- ↑ "Will Winsome Earle-Sears become the first Black woman governor?". Politico. September 8, 2023.
- ↑ Turner, Mikea (January 14, 2022). "Winsome Sears to make history as first woman - & Black woman - to be Virginia's Lt. Governor". WWBT. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
- ↑ Duster, Chandelis (November 3, 2021). "Winsome Sears will become Virginia lieutenant governor, CNN projects, becoming first female and woman of color in the office". CNN. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- ↑ Vozzella, Laura; Schneider, Gregory S. (September 5, 2024). "Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears announces her candidacy for governor". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ↑ Vozzella, Laura; Schneider, Gregory S. (2024-09-05). "Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears announces her candidacy for governor". Washington Post. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
- ↑ Graf, Heather (October 26, 2021). "Lieutenant governor race in Virginia: Meet Republican candidate Winsome Sears". WJLA.com. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- ↑ McLeod, Sheri-Kae (May 24, 2021). "Jamaican-born Winsome Earle Sears Wins Republican Party Nod for Lieutenant Gov".
- ↑ "Biography of Winsome Sears". VoteSmart.org. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ↑ "Notable Black Men and Women of Virginia". Virginia.gov. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
- ↑ Caine, Andrew (January 21, 2021). "Winsome Sears launches GOP bid for lieutenant governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
- ↑ Olivo, Antonio; Vozzella, Laura (2021-05-12). "Winsome Sears, former state delegate, wins GOP nomination for Virginia lieutenant governor". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
- ↑ Mirshahi, Dean (January 15, 2022). "Winsome Sears, the first woman of color to hold statewide office in Virginia, sworn in as lieutenant governor". wavy.com.
- ↑ Clayton, Cindy (August 7, 2019). "Ex-local delegate loses three relatives in fatal wreck". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- ↑ Olivo, Antonio; Vozzella, Laura (22 January 2022). "Virginia lieutenant governor Earle-Sears makes her mark in Richmond during tumultuous first week". Washington Post.
- ↑ Robertson, Campbell (27 December 2021). "'I Look Like the Strategy': Winsome Sears Wants Black Voters to Rethink the G.O.P." New York Times.
- ↑ Barakat, Matthew (November 13, 2021). "History-making Winsome Sears ready to work in Virginia". Associated Press. Retrieved February 17, 2022.