Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican candidate in Virginia’s gubernatorial race, has reportedly asked her campaign manager to step down after falling behind her Democrat opponent in polling and fundraising.
The news comes amid mounting GOP pressure for Earle-Sears to shake up her campaign with November’s election just months away.
A recent poll from the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs found Democrat Abigail Spanberger leading by 12 points. Incumbent Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, cannot run for reelection due to Virginia’s constitutional prohibition on serving consecutive terms.
Earle-Sears asked Will Archer, a pastor with no political experience, to step down from his position as campaign manager, The Washington Post reported Wednesday. Archer may remain with the campaign in a different capacity, according to two people who spoke to the Post.
Chris Saxman, a former GOP state delegate and friend of Earle-Sears who headed her transition team after she won the 2021 lieutenant governor’s race, questioned the selection of Archer for such an important campaign role.
“A statewide campaign and you hire someone with no working political experience—it’s going to raise eyebrows among the base of the Republican Party, among donors, and apparently it hasn’t worked out,” Saxman said.
In response to the report, Earle-Sears’ campaign stated that “Our campaign is focused squarely on defeating Abigail Spanberger in November. That’s it. No amount of nonsense from Abigail Spanberger or her allies in the liberal media will distract us from that mission and serving the people of Virginia.”
Spanberger has significantly outraised Earle-Sears: $23.5 million to $11.6 million. Spanberger also has about $15 million left to spend, while Earle-Sears has about $4.5 million.
Despite Earle-Sears’ lagging fundraising numbers, Attorney General Jason Miyares topped his Democrat opponent. Miyares, who is seeking reelection, raised nearly $5 million and has $7 million on hand, compared to his Democrat challenger Jay Jones, who has raised $2.2 million and has $1.2 million left.
The election will be held on Nov. 4, with early voting beginning Sept. 19.