| Winsome Sears | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| 42nd Lieutenant Governor of Virginia | |||
| Incumbent | |||
| Assumed office January 15, 2022 | |||
| Governor | Glenn Youngkin | ||
| Preceded by | Justin Fairfax | ||
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates | 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 | ||
| Spouse(s) | Terence Sears | ||
| Children | 3 | ||
| Residence | Winchester, Virginia | ||
| Military service | |||
| Allegiance | United States | ||
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps | ||
| Years of service | 1983–1986 | ||
Winsome Earle Sears (born March 11, 1964) is a Jamaican-born American politician and businesswoman who is currently serving as the 42nd lieutenant governor of Virginia. She is a member of the Republican Party. Sears served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 to 2004. She lost a write-in bid in Virginia for the U.S. Senate in 2018. In 2021, she was elected lieutenant governor of Virginia, becoming the first woman of color and first person of Jamaican origin to be elected statewide.[1]
Early life and education[]
Sears was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and immigrated to the United States at the age of six.[2] She grew up in the Bronx, New York City.[3] She served as an electrician in the United States Marines from 1983 to 1986.[4] Sears earned an A.A. from Tidewater Community College, a B.A. in English with a minor in economics from Old Dominion University and an M.A. in organizational leadership from Regent University.[5]
Career[]
Before running for public office, Sears ran a homeless shelter.[6]
In November 2001, Sears upset 20-year Democratic incumbent Billy Robinson while running for the 90th district seat in Virginia's House of Delegates,[7][8] becoming the first Jamaican female Republican,[9] first female veteran, and first naturalized citizen delegate, to serve in the body.[10] In 2004, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi appointed her to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.[11]
In 2004, Sears unsuccessfully challenged Democrat Bobby Scott for Virginia's 3rd congressional district seat.[12] She received 31% of the vote.[4]
Governor Bob McDonnell appointed Sears to the Virginia Board of Education in 2011.[13]
In September 2018, Sears entered the race for U.S. Senate as a write-in candidate after Corey Stewart won the Republican nomination.[14] She received less than 1% of the vote.[15]
2021 lieutenant gubernatorial election[]
On May 11, 2021, Sears won the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor of Virginia on the fifth ballot, defeating former state delegate and second-place finisher Tim Hugo 54% to 46%.[16] On November 2, 2021, she won the race on a ticket with gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin, becoming the first black woman elected to a statewide office in Virginia.[17] She is expected to be inaugurated as the 42nd lieutenant governor of Virginia on January 15, 2022.
Personal life[]
Sears is married to a Marine Corps veteran with two daughters.[18] One of Sears's daughters died in a 2012 car crash along with Sears's two young granddaughters.[18][19] She and her family live in Winchester, Virginia.[20]
Sears owns an appliance and plumbing repair store in Virginia.[18]
Electoral history[]
| Date | Election | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia House of Delegates, 90th district | |||||
| November 6, 2001[7] | General | Winsome Sears | Republican | 6,696 | 53% |
| William "Billy" Robinson Jr. (incumbent) | Democratic | 6,017 | 47% | ||
| Write Ins | 4 | 0% | |||
| Republican defeated Democratic incumbent | |||||
| Virginia 3rd congressional district | |||||
| November 2, 2004[12] | General | Bobby Scott (incumbent) | Democratic | 159,373 | 69% |
| Winsome Sears | Republican | 70,194 | 31% | ||
| Write Ins | 325 | 0% | |||
| Democratic incumbent held seat | |||||
| Lieutenant Governor of Virginia | |||||
| November 2, 2021[21] | General | Winsome Sears | Republican | 1,658,767 | 50.71% |
| Hala Ayala | Democratic | 1,608,691 | 49.18% | ||
| Write Ins | 3,808 | 0.12% | |||
| Republican won Democratic held seat | |||||
References[]
- ↑ Chandelis Duster. "Winsome Sears will become Virginia lieutenant governor, CNN projects, becoming first female and woman of color in the office". https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/03/politics/winsome-sears-virginia-lieutenant-governor-race/index.html.
- ↑ Graf, Heather (2021-10-26). "Lieutenant governor race in Virginia: Meet Republican candidate Winsome Sears". WJLA. https://wjla.com/news/elections/lieutenant-governor-race-in-virginia-meet-republican-candidate-winsome-sears. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
- ↑ McLeod, Sheri-Kae (May 24, 2021). "Jamaican-born Winsome Earle Sears Wins Republican Party Nod for Lieutenant Gov". https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/caribbean-breaking-news-featured/jamaican-born-winsome-earle-sears-wins-republican-partys-nomination/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Caine, Andrew (January 21, 2021). "Winsome Sears launches GOP bid for lieutenant governor". https://richmond.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/winsome-sears-launches-gop-bid-for-lieutenant-governor/article_bf7d5e47-c4fa-510f-b02b-e3acf5f8e739.html.
- ↑ "Biography of Winsome Sears". Vote Smart. https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/50766/winsome-earle-sears.
- ↑ Carroll, Fred (September 21, 2004). "Sears, Scott Square off in Debate". Daily Press. http://articles.dailypress.com/2004-09-21/news/0409210006_1_balanced-budget-amendment-tax-cuts-debate.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "General Election – November 6, 2001". Virginia State Board of Elections. http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/2001/nov2001/html/c_08_090.htm.
- ↑ "With victory, Sears broke down barriers". November 23, 2001. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2001/nov/23/20011123-031339-3266r/.
- ↑ "Del. Sears visits Old Dominion class Tuesday". News at Old Dominion University. November 22, 2002. http://www.odu.edu/ao/news/index.php?todo=details&todo=details&id=2086.
- ↑ Lewis, Bob (December 15, 2001). "Black GOP Woman Stuns Va. Politics". Norfolk, Va.: Associated Press. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-17254802.html.
- ↑ New Members Appointed to Committee on Women Veterans (press release), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (January 26, 2004).
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "General Election – November 2, 2004". Virginia State Board of Elections. http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/ElectionResults/2004/Nov2004/.
- ↑ Antonio Olivo, Back in the Virginia political spotlight, Winsome Sears seeks to lift GOP in bid for lieutenant governor, Washington Post (October 15, 2021).
- ↑ Wilson, Patrick (September 18, 2018). "Former GOP state delegate wants Republicans to write in her name for U.S. Senate instead of voting for Corey Stewart". https://roanoke.com/news/politics/former-gop-state-delegate-wants-republicans-to-write-in-her-name-for-us-senate-instead/article_748cee1f-70fe-56a7-a625-713fdc3d0960.html.
- ↑ "Official 2018 November General Election Results, Virginia". https://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2018%20November%20General/Site/Congress.html.
- ↑ Olivo, Antonio (May 11, 2021). "Winsome Sears, former state delegate, Wins GOP nomination for Virginia lieutenant Governor". https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/virginia-republican-nominee-lieutenant-governor/2021/05/11/58c9acce-b196-11eb-9059-d8176b9e3798_story.html.
- ↑ Panetta, Grace; Seddiq, Oma (November 2, 2021). "Republican Winsome Sears defeats Hala Ayala in Virginia lieutenant governor's race". Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/virginia-lt-governor-race-hala-ayala-vs-winsome-sears-results-2021-11.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Freeman, James (2021-11-03). "Leading Like a Marine in Virginia". The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/leading-like-a-marine-in-virginia-11635962909. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ↑ Clayton, Cindy. "Ex-local delegate loses three relatives in fatal wreck". The Virginian-Pilot. https://www.pilotonline.com/news/article_a8b34e56-61b7-52ca-8a56-d96beb42c52d.html.
- ↑ "Sterling Women of Winchester: Past Events". http://sterlingwomen.org/winchester/past-events/.
- ↑ "General Election – November 2, 2021". Virginia State Board of Elections. https://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2021%20November%20General/Site/Statewide.html.
External links[]
- "Winsome E Sears". Virginia Public Access Project. http://www.vpap.org/candidates/profile/home/41405.
- Appearances on C-SPAN
The original article can be found at Winsome Sears and the edit history here.