Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R-VA) now has some competition to become the Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee, as former Del. Dave LaRock has also filed to run for governor this year.
LaRock, who portrays himself as an ally to President Donald Trump on X, served in the House of Delegates from 2014 through 2024 and came in second in a 2023 state Senate primary. He is the first Republican to challenge Earle-Sears for the nomination, something he does not shy away from on his campaign website.
“While the GOP’s presumptive nominee offers platitudes and backtracks on conservative values, LaRock takes action – defending parental rights, backing law enforcement, and fighting for Virginia’s future,” reads his campaign website, which was updated Wednesday.
Beyond presenting himself as an ally to Trump, LaRock has also detailed plans to create Virginia’s own version of the Department of Government Efficiency, which Trump and ally Elon Musk campaigned on in the 2024 election. Other issues that LaRock is standing on include looking to cut Virginia’s annual car tax and supporting school choice.
End the car tax in Virginia? Where to begin?
— Dave LaRock For VA Governor (@DaveLaRockForVA) February 26, 2025
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Earle-Sears’s campaign, however, is not fazed by LaRock’s primary challenge.
“Challengers can enter the race, but the outcome will be the same,” a statement from her campaign reads. “Winsome Sears will be the next Governor of Virginia.”
Virginia governors are unable to serve consecutive terms, meaning Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) cannot seek reelection this November. The governor endorsed Sears last year, shortly after Attorney General Jason Miyares, who was speculated by some to succeed Youngkin, announced plans to seek another term as attorney general.
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Candidates for Virginia’s gubernatorial elections require 10,000 signatures to get on the ballot, including 400 signatures from each congressional district within the state. The primary election will be held on June 17, followed by the general election on Nov. 4.
Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger is the leading Democratic candidate. A new poll surveying 690 Virginia residents found that Spanberger has a 15-point lead over Sears with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.66 points.