'Common Sense Will Win’: Winsome Earle-Sears on Her Tight Virginia Race

Summary

Podcast Summary: Morning Wire

Episode: 'Common Sense Will Win’: Winsome Earle-Sears on Her Tight Virginia Race
Date: November 1, 2025
Host: John Bickley with Georgia Howe
Featured Guest: Winsome Earle-Sears, Virginia Lieutenant Governor and Republican gubernatorial candidate

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode features an in-depth interview with Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears as she faces off against Democrat Abigail Spanberger in a fiercely contested gubernatorial race. The conversation centers on key campaign issues, the role of the media, controversial comments from political opponents, and how Virginia’s election could shape national politics in 2026 and 2028. Earle-Sears strongly positions her campaign as the “common sense” choice amid heightened rhetoric and polarized political climates.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Tight Race and Campaign Confidence

• [02:36] Earle-Sears expresses optimism about her electoral chances, emphasizing “common sense” policies focused on:

  • Keeping taxes low
  • Ensuring public safety and secure borders
  • Opposing Virginia’s potential designation as a sanctuary state
  • Maintaining right-to-work laws and resisting union pressures

  "We're going to win because we're the ones with the common sense ideas. They're going to keep Virginia moving."
  – Winsome Earle-Sears, [02:55]

• She characterizes her opponent, Spanberger, as inconsistent and driven by special interests (particularly unions).

2. Critique of Media Bias and Polling

• [04:23] Earle-Sears voices concern over media partisanship and inaccurate polling:

  • Asserts the race has always been close, contrary to media-driven narratives
  • Suggests media are using polls “straight from the Democrats” to demoralize voters
  • Relates her immigrant perspective on dangers of politicized media

  "I'm from a third world country and I've seen what happens when the media decides that they're going to support one political side and against the other. And we don't expect that in our media, not in America, but that's where we are today."
  – Winsome Earle-Sears, [04:23]

3. Parental Rights and Cultural Issues

• [05:00] Earle-Sears defends parents’ rights regarding education and student safety:
  • Recounts confronting Spanberger on accommodating differing beliefs in school policies
  • Claims her policies “will protect independents' children, Democrats' children, and Republicans' children.”

4. Jay Jones Controversy and Political Rhetoric

• [05:38–07:14] A critical segment focuses on remarks by Democrat Attorney General candidate Jay Jones, accused of advocating violence:

  • Earle-Sears insists that neither such rhetoric nor the lack of condemnation from Spanberger are acceptable
  • She highlights a lack of accountability and claims a double standard in political discourse

  "You have a man running for political office who, when he had political office, advocated the murder of his opponent and also advocated the murder of his two children who were 2 and 5 years old at the time. Who is this man? Jay Jones? We cannot have him."
  – Winsome Earle-Sears, [05:57]

  • On Spanberger’s responsibility:

    "If she wouldn't give him a job, then why don't you pull your endorsement, Abigail? He advocated murder. Murder."
    – Winsome Earle-Sears, [07:14]

5. Accusations of Hypocrisy and the Need for Civility

• [07:50] Responding to comparisons between political parties’ rhetoric, Earle-Sears claims:

  • She hasn’t heard similar violent advocacy from Republicans
  • Democrats appear intolerant of dissent, despite claiming otherwise
  • Reiterates her campaign’s focus on order, safety, and peaceful coexistence

  "We want to be safe in Virginia, in America. We just want peace and quiet, and you go do your thing and let me do mine."
  – Winsome Earle-Sears, [07:50]

6. Virginia’s Influence and the ‘American Dream’

• [08:50] Earle-Sears reflects on the broader significance of her candidacy:

  • Emphasizes her immigrant background and her father’s journey as a testament to American opportunity
  • Posits that Virginia is “expanding the tent” for the Republican Party and can set a national example

  "Here I am, an immigrant to this great country, and I'm running to be governor of our commonwealth. I mean, it's really unheard of, and I think it's a great thing… America, it's a great country. Does she have her faults? Of course. But I tell you what, it's the best we've got, and we're going to keep building."
  – Winsome Earle-Sears, [08:50]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Campaign Approach: “We're going to win because we're the ones with the common sense ideas.”
  – Winsome Earle-Sears, [02:55]

• On Media Bias: “The media has used lying polls come straight from the Democrats that at one point said I was down 20 points, and they knew the truth.”
  – Winsome Earle-Sears, [04:23]

• On Parental Rights: “Parents, they don't want their girl children being forced to undress in front of nude men.”
  – Winsome Earle-Sears, [04:40]

• On Political Rhetoric: “I have not heard a Republican advocate for murder of a political opponent, and I've not heard a Republican advocate for murder of the opponent's children.”
  – Winsome Earle-Sears, [07:50]

• On America: “America, it's a great country. Does she have her faults? Of course. But I tell you what, it's the best we've got, and we're going to keep building.”
  – Winsome Earle-Sears, [09:20]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:36] – Interview begins; campaign optimism and key policies
• [04:23] – Media bias, polling, and immigrant perspective
• [05:00] – Debate moments & parental rights
• [05:38] – Jay Jones controversy and calls for condemnation
• [07:50] – The tone of politics, accusations of hypocrisy
• [08:50] – Broader significance of the Virginia race, American dream

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Conclusion

In this pointed, passionate interview, Winsome Earle-Sears frames her campaign as a fight for “common sense” governance in Virginia, routinely contrasting her positions with those of her opponent and the broader Democratic Party. She levels serious criticism against what she frames as extremist rhetoric and a complicit media, positioning herself as a model of opportunity and civility. The episode provides insight into the heightened stakes of the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial race and its potential national repercussions.

Transcript

[Winsome Earl Sears]

I'm wondering why my opponent won't say, beyond its abhorrent and disgusting, why she won't say it is not okay and that he must leave the race because J. Jones advocated the murder. Abigail the murder of a man, a former speaker, as well as his children who were two years, two and five years old. You have little girls. What if he said it about your two children, your three children? Is that when you would say he should get out of the race? Abigail that was Democrat Abigail Spanberger facing off with Republican lieutenant Governor Winsome Earl Sears in a gubernatorial debate that went viral. The two are locked in a tight race for governor of the key state of Virginia that will be decided on Tuesday, November 4th.

[John Bickley]

In this episode, we sit down with the Lieutenant Governor to discuss the state of the race and the role she believes Virginia will play in 20 and 2028. I'm Daily Wire Executive Editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. This is a weekend edition of Morning Wire.

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[John Bickley]

MorningWire joining us now is Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earl Sears. Lieutenant Governor, thank you so much for coming on.

[Winsome Earl Sears]

Thank you for having me. It's a great Day.

[John Bickley]

So, first, you're in a very tight race for the governor. We're in the final days from the election. The contest is between you and Democrat Abigail Spanberger. We've been tracking the polls and things have really tightened pretty significantly in recent weeks. First, how do you feel about your chances right now?

[Winsome Earl Sears]

Oh, we're going to win because we're the ones with the common sense ideas. They're going to keep Virginia moving. I'm talking about we're going to make sure that the taxes stay low. My opponent has already said that she's going to increase taxes. We're going to make sure that you're safe and secure. Virginia. My opponent has already said she's going to make Virginia a sanctuary state, meaning that if you're criminal and you're legally here, you're going to get sanctuary. But then again, she didn't have to say it because that's how she voted. She voted for that, voted to keep our borders open. And so you see now the problems that we have in trying to get those who are criminals and illegally here gone. And, and then of course, she is going to, in not keeping us safe. She's going to get rid of the qualified immunity and defund the police because that's what she voted for. So we must believe her record, not what she says. Now suddenly she's saying when it comes to businesses and jobs that she is going to keep right to work. Meaning you're not going to be forced to join a union. She just said that two days ago to the Chamber of Commerce, etc. Can't believe her. The unions have given her $1.4 million. They're looking at a return on. They've given me zero, which means they understand I'm going to make sure that workers don't have to be forced to join a union, don't have to be forced at all to make decisions for them. They keep more of their money in their pocket.

[John Bickley]

So as for your internal polling, do you see the same thing that we've seen publicly in terms of the tightening of the race? What are you guys looking at?

[Winsome Earl Sears]

Right, so this race was much, much closer than the mainstream media has been saying. But then again, it's a shame. You know, I'm from a third world country and I've seen what happens when the media decides that they're going to support one political side and against the other. And we don't expect that in our media, not in America, but that's where we are today. And so they have. The media has used Lying polls come straight from the Democrats that at one point said I was down 20 points and they knew the truth. When we had video of Abigail Spamberger telling her supporters that this was a toss up race and it's okay because she's been here before. The one time I want the media to believe her, they don't. So we know we're going to win this because we again have the right ideas, which is we're going to support parents. Parents, they don't want their girl children being forced to undress in front of nude men. And that's what my opponent has. Not to support it. But she voted. I got her on the debate stage to finally say she wouldn't support that. But then again, the very next question, she flipped right back because that's what's in her heart. My policies will protect independents children, Democrats children, and Republicans children.

[John Bickley]

Now, you mentioned that debate and I actually wanted to ask you about that. That really went viral in part because of the controversy surrounding the Democrat candidate for attorney general in the state. That's Jay Jones. You say he should have pulled out of the race. You've called on Spanberger to demand the same. Why do you believe this is so important?

[Winsome Earl Sears]

Well, because here you have a man running for political office who, when he had political office, advocated the murder of his opponent and also advocated the murder of his two children who were 2 and 5 years old at the time. Who is this man? Jay Jones? We cannot have him. Is that what we want in America? And then, by the way, my opponent, she's not too far behind because she has said, let your rage fuel you. What rage are you talking about? Abigail? And fuel what? Abigail and against whom? Abigail, I mean these people. Abigail Spamberger cannot be governor. We needed her to tone the rhetoric down and instead she's turned it up. She's politically calculating and cunning. I used to think it was cowardice, but I see now, no, she wants power. She wants control. And so she refuses to say the right thing, which is to tell Jay Jones to get out of the race.

[John Bickley]

Her stance is now that she's going to stay out of that issue, that it's his race, a separate race, that she's not going to weigh in. I should note here that we have reached out to her team to try to get comment. No reply. So do you believe it really is incumbent on her to openly denounce him?

[Winsome Earl Sears]

I tell you what, if she were asking him for a resume to work in her cabinet, let's say, and she heard that he had said that his political opponent should be murdered and his children as well. Do you think that she would give him that job? No, she wouldn't. So if she wouldn't give him a job, then why don't you pull your endorsement? Abigail? He advocated murder. Murder.

[John Bickley]

Democrats will continue to say, look, there's heated rhetoric from both sides of the aisle. This is nothing different on the Democrat side than you would see on the Republican side. How do you respond to that?

[Winsome Earl Sears]

I have not heard a Republican advocate for murder of a political opponent, and I've not heard a Republican advocate for murder of the opponent's children. And I've not heard them say that you, the Republican opponent, the wife, was breeding little fascists. Breeding, quote, unquote, little fascists. Come on. We want to be safe in Virginia, in America. We just want peace and quiet, and you go do your thing and let me do mine. And yet the Democrats who claim to tolerate people. Yes. Only accept if you don't agree with them. And they claim to love everybody. And except. No, they don't. Really. We cannot have these people, Abigail Spanberger, Jay Jones, and Ghassala Hashmi, as our three top leaders. No, not in Virginia.

[John Bickley]

Final question here. What role do you see Virginia playing in the broader national Republican movement heading into 2026 and 2028?

[Winsome Earl Sears]

I think we're expanding the tent here in Virginia. I mean, here I am, an immigrant to this great country, and I'm running to be governor of our commonwealth. I mean, it's really unheard of, and I think it's a great thing. My father came to America with only $1.75 in his pocket at a time when it wasn't good for us people who looked like me. And it was actually 17 days before Dr. King gave his I have a Dream speech. And now here, my father, with his only $75, has made good, and he's comfortably retired. And now here I am, his daughter running to be governor. America, it's a great country. Does she have her faults? Of course. But I tell you what, it's the best we've got, and we're going to keep building.

[John Bickley]

Lieutenant Governor, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us.

[Winsome Earl Sears]

Thank you very much for having me. Thank you, sir.

[John Bickley]

That was Virginia Lieutenant Governor and Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earl Sears. This has been a weekend edition of Morning Wire.