‘Slaves did not die in the fields’: Virginia Republicans fret over reelection after Earle-Sears’ campaign ‘glitches’

Virginia Republicans are increasingly worried about Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears’ campaign for governor, as they fear she might lose in the November election. Several issues are causing this concern, mainly her slow start, which includes poor fundraising and statements that have stirred controversy.

The campaign’s fundraising has been much weaker than expected. While exact numbers are not fully available, the first-quarter report shows Earle-Sears is far behind her Democratic opponent, Abigail Spanberger, putting her at a major financial disadvantage. This is especially troubling because Virginia’s political environment is already difficult, made worse by actions like those of Elon Musk, which have affected the state’s federal workforce.

As reported by Politico, another problem is what many Republicans are calling “mistakes” or missteps. One fundraising email compared diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs to slavery, saying that enslaved people “did not die in the fields so that we could call ourselves victims now.” This drew heavy criticism.

Republicans worried about November’s election in Virginia

Although the campaign tried to distance itself from the email, the words have been linked to Earle-Sears and are still visible on her campaign’s WinRed fundraising page. On top of this, her campaign website used watermarked stock photos, suggesting a lack of careful review in preparing materials. Experienced Republican strategists have called this unprofessional.

Earle-Sears’ past positions on socially conservative topics could also hurt her. She has opposed laws protecting abortion rights and preventing LGBTQ+ discrimination, which might push away moderate voters, especially in wealthy Washington suburbs. These voters are key to winning a Virginia governor’s race. Her stance clashes with the Republican Party’s broader effort to appear more moderate on social issues to attract more voters.

The campaign’s handling of criticism has also been questionable. For example, it was slow to respond to an audio clip where Earle-Sears seemed to support Trump’s tariffs, a position many Virginians dislike. This missed chance to clarify her stance has hurt public perception.

Republicans have had a lot to worry about with Trump’s big bill, but this only adds to it. It also doesn’t help that they’re the least productive congress so far.

Despite these issues, some Republicans point to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s 2021 win as proof that Earle-Sears could still recover. Youngkin narrowly defeated Terry McAuliffe even though he was behind in polls months before the election. This gives some hope that Earle-Sears could still make a comeback. However, there are key differences. Youngkin had a long primary race, which gave him more time to get noticed and connect with voters, something Earle-Sears did not have.

The gap in fundraising between Earle-Sears and Spanberger is another major obstacle. Spanberger has raised much more money, and her history of winning tough races makes her a strong opponent. The fact that Spanberger is no longer in office means she can focus entirely on fundraising, while Earle-Sears still has legislative duties, making the financial gap even wider.