Winsome Sears

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Winsome Sears
Winsome Sears in November 2021.jpg
42nd Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 15, 2022
GovernorGlenn Youngkin
Preceded byJustin Fairfax
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 57)
Kingston, Jamaica
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Terence Sears
Children3
EducationTidewater Community College (AA)
Old Dominion University (BA)
Regent University (MA)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Years of service1983–1986

Winsome Earle Sears (born March 11, 1964) is a Jamaican-born American politician and businesswoman 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. Sears is the first woman to serve as lieutenant governor of Virginia, and the first woman of color and first Jamaican-born American citizen elected to statewide office.[1][2]

Sears is also the third African American to hold statewide office in Virginia following L. Douglas Wilder and Justin Fairfax.

Before running for public office, Sears ran a homeless shelter.[3]

Early life and education[]

Sears was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and immigrated to the United States at the age of six.[4] She grew up in the Bronx, New York City.[5] She served as an electrician in the United States Marines from 1983 to 1986.[6] 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.[7]

Career[]

Before running for public office, Sears ran a homeless shelter.[8]

In November 2001, Sears upset 20-year Democratic incumbent Billy Robinson while running for the 90th district seat in Virginia's House of Delegates,[9][10] becoming the first Jamaican female Republican,[11] first female veteran, and first naturalized citizen delegate, to serve in the body.[12] In 2004, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi appointed her to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.[13]

In 2004, Sears unsuccessfully challenged Democrat Bobby Scott for Virginia's 3rd congressional district seat.[14] She received 31% of the vote.[6]

Governor Bob McDonnell appointed Sears to the Virginia Board of Education in 2011.[15]

In September 2018, Sears entered the race for U.S. Senate as a write-in candidate after Corey Stewart won the Republican nomination.[16] She received less than 1% of the vote.[17]

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%.[18] 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.[19] She was inaugurated as the 42nd lieutenant governor of Virginia on January 15, 2022.

Lieutenant governor[]

Sears was sworn into office on January 15, 2022. She is the first female lieutenant governor of Virginia as well as the first black woman lieutenant governor and statewide office-holder in the Commonwealth.[1][2]

Personal life[]

Sears is married to a Marine Corps veteran with two daughters.[20] One of Sears's daughters died in a 2012 car crash along with Sears's two young granddaughters.[20][21] Having previously lived in Norfolk, she and her family now live in Winchester.[22]

Sears owns an appliance and plumbing repair store in Virginia.[20]

Electoral history[]

Date Election Candidate Party Votes %
Virginia House of Delegates, 90th district
November 6, 2001[9] 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[14] 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[23] 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[]

  1. ^ a b 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.
  2. ^ a b Chandelis Duster. "Winsome Sears will become Virginia lieutenant governor, CNN projects, becoming first female and woman of color in the office". CNN. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  3. ^ Carroll, Fred (September 21, 2004). "Sears, Scott Square off in Debate". Daily Press. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  4. ^ Graf, Heather (October 26, 2021). "Lieutenant governor race in Virginia: Meet Republican candidate Winsome Sears". WJLA. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  5. ^ McLeod, Sheri-Kae (May 24, 2021). "Jamaican-born Winsome Earle Sears Wins Republican Party Nod for Lieutenant Gov".
  6. ^ a b Caine, Andrew (January 21, 2021). "Winsome Sears launches GOP bid for lieutenant governor". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  7. ^ "Biography of Winsome Sears". Vote Smart. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  8. ^ Carroll, Fred (September 21, 2004). "Sears, Scott Square off in Debate". Daily Press. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  9. ^ a b "General Election – November 6, 2001". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
  10. ^ "With victory, Sears broke down barriers". The Washington Times. November 23, 2001.
  11. ^ "Del. Sears visits Old Dominion class Tuesday". News at Old Dominion University. November 22, 2002. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
  12. ^ Lewis, Bob (December 15, 2001). "Black GOP Woman Stuns Va. Politics". Norfolk, Va.: Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  13. ^ New Members Appointed to Committee on Women Veterans (press release), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (January 26, 2004).
  14. ^ a b "General Election – November 2, 2004". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  15. ^ Antonio Olivo, Back in the Virginia political spotlight, Winsome Sears seeks to lift GOP in bid for lieutenant governor, Washington Post (October 15, 2021).
  16. ^ 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". Roanoke Times.
  17. ^ "Official 2018 November General Election Results, Virginia". Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  18. ^ Olivo, Antonio (May 11, 2021). "Winsome Sears, former state delegate, Wins GOP nomination for Virginia lieutenant Governor". Washington Post.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Panetta, Grace; Seddiq, Oma (November 2, 2021). "Republican Winsome Sears defeats Hala Ayala in Virginia lieutenant governor's race". Business Insider. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  20. ^ a b c Freeman, James (November 3, 2021). "Leading Like a Marine in Virginia". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  21. ^ Clayton, Cindy. "Ex-local delegate loses three relatives in fatal wreck". Pilot Online. The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  22. ^ "Sterling Women of Winchester: Past Events". sterlingwomen.org. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  23. ^ "General Election – November 2, 2021". Virginia State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 17, 2021.

External links[]

Virginia House of Delegates
Preceded by Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 90th district
2002–2004 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
2021 		Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
2022–present 		Incumbent
Retrieved from ""