Winsome Earle-Sears

Winsome Earle-Sears
Official portrait, 2022
42nd Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
In office
January 15, 2022 – January 17, 2026
GovernorGlenn Youngkin
Preceded byJustin Fairfax
Succeeded byGhazala Hashmi
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 90th district
In office
January 13, 2002 – January 14, 2004
Preceded byBilly Robinson
Succeeded byAlgie Howell
Personal details
Born
Winsome Earle

(1964-03-11) March 11, 1964 (age 62)
Kingston, Jamaica
Political partyRepublican (since 1988)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic (before 1988)
Spouse(s)Terence Sears
Children3
EducationTidewater Community College
Old Dominion University
Regent University
SignatureCursive signature
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1983–1986
RankCorporal

Winsome Earle-Sears (born March 11, 1964) is an American politician who served as the 42nd lieutenant governor of Virginia from 2022 to 2026. She was the first woman and woman of color ever elected to this office. Before becoming lieutenant governor, Sears served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 to 2004.

She served on the Virginia Board of Education from 2014 to 2015. 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. She became the Republican nominee in April 2025. She lost the general election to former Democratic congresswoman Abigail Spanberger.

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, and grew up in the Bronx, New York City. 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.

Earle served as an electrician in the United States Marines from 1983 to 1986. Before running for public office, she directed a Salvation Army homeless shelter.

Personal life

Sears is married to Terence Sears, they have three children. One of her children died in a 2012 car crash, along with her two grandchildren. She is a Christian, and authored a Christian self-help book, Stop Being a Christian Wimp!, before entering politics.

References

  1. ↑ "Will Winsome Earle-Sears become the first Black woman governor?". Politico. September 8, 2023.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ Graf, Heather (October 26, 2021). "Lieutenant governor race in Virginia: Meet Republican candidate Winsome Sears". WJLA.com. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  7. ↑ McLeod, Sheri-Kae (May 24, 2021). "Jamaican-born Winsome Earle Sears Wins Republican Party Nod for Lieutenant Gov".
  8. ↑ "Biography of Winsome Sears". VoteSmart.org. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Notable Black Men and Women of Virginia". Virginia.gov. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  10. ↑ Caine, Andrew (January 21, 2021). "Winsome Sears launches GOP bid for lieutenant governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ 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. Archived from the original on March 30, 2025. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
  13. ↑ Clayton, Cindy (August 7, 2019). "Ex-local delegate loses three relatives in fatal wreck". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  14. ↑ Olivo, Antonio; Vozzella, Laura (22 January 2022). "Virginia lieutenant governor Earle-Sears makes her mark in Richmond during tumultuous first week". Washington Post.
  15. ↑ Robertson, Campbell (27 December 2021). "'I Look Like the Strategy': Winsome Sears Wants Black Voters to Rethink the G.O.P." New York Times.
  16. ↑ Barakat, Matthew (November 13, 2021). "History-making Winsome Sears ready to work in Virginia". Associated Press. Retrieved February 17, 2022.