Two Republican state lawmakers have jumped into the race to succeed Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) as Virginia‘s next chief executive, threatening Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears‘s (R-VA) lock on the GOP nomination.
Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase announced her entrance to the race late Wednesday evening following former Del. Dave LaRock’s announcement that he was running for governor that same day.
Both Chase and LaRock have sought to align themselves closely with President Donald Trump, who lost the state in November despite winning the presidency.
FORMER VIRGINIA DELEGATE TO CHALLENGE WINSOME EARLE-SEARS IN GOP GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY
Chase branded herself as a “Trump in Heels” candidate in announcing her gubernatorial run, while LaRock aims to implement a state-level version of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency in Virginia.
“Many in Southwest Virginia have said they will NOT support our current announced Republican gubernatorial nominee hopeful. ‘She doesn’t support Trump,’ they say,” Chase said in her email, claiming a pro-Trump candidate is needed instead of Earle-Sears. “And many Trump supporters said they will stay home if she’s on the ballot.”
Youngkin sought to quell challengers against his lieutenant governor in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
“I fully support Winsome to be Virginia’s next governor. She has been a steadfast partner when it comes to standing up for parents, backing the blue, making Virginia the Top State for Business and delivering historic tax relief to lower the cost of living,” the governor wrote. “I will stand with her with every step of the way as our party unites and she wins in November.”
Earle-Sears was seen as the leading GOP candidate to take on the likely Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger.
But if Chase or LaRock collects a minimum of 10,000 signatures, with at least 400 signatures from each congressional district by April 3, Earle-Sears will be forced to participate in a June primary.
A recent poll from the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research at Roanoke College showed Spanberger with 39% support compared to Earle-Sears’s 24%, a notable increase after the two candidates were tied at 39% in a September poll.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Earle-Sears’s campaign for comment.