Winsome Earle-Sears facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Winsome Earle-Sears
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Official portrait, 2022
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| 42nd Lieutenant Governor of Virginia | |
| Assumed office January 15, 2022 |
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| Governor | Glenn Youngkin |
| Preceded by | Justin Fairfax |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 90th district |
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| In office January 13, 2002 – January 14, 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Billy Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Algie Howell |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Winsome Earle
March 11, 1964 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Political party | Republican (1988–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic (before 1988) |
| Spouse | Terence Sears |
| Children | 3 |
| Education |
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| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1983–1986 |
| Rank | Corporal |
Winsome Earle-Sears (born March 11, 1964) is an American politician and businesswoman. She is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Since 2022, she has served as the 42nd lieutenant governor of Virginia. She is a member of the Republican Party. Winsome Earle-Sears made history as Virginia's first female lieutenant governor. She is also the first woman of color to hold a statewide office in Virginia.
Winsome Earle-Sears was born in Jamaica and moved to the United States in 1970. She served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 to 2004. She also worked on the Virginia Board of Education. In 2021, she was elected lieutenant governor of Virginia. She won against Democratic candidate Hala Ayala.
Earle-Sears is the Republican candidate for governor in the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election. She is the first Jamaican American woman to be a major-party candidate for governor. If she wins, she would be the first Black woman to serve as governor of a U.S. state. She would also be the first female governor of Virginia.
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Early Life and Education
Winsome Sears was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on March 11, 1964. She moved to the United States when she was six years old. She grew up in the Bronx, New York City.
Sears studied at several colleges. She earned an A.A. degree from Tidewater Community College. She then received a B.A. in English from Old Dominion University. Later, she earned a M.A. in organizational leadership from Regent University.
Winsome Sears served as an electrician in the United States Marines from 1983 to 1986. Before entering politics, she managed a Salvation Army homeless shelter.
Political Career
In November 2001, Winsome Sears won the election for the 90th district seat in Virginia's House of Delegates. She defeated Billy Robinson, who had held the seat for 20 years. This made her the first Jamaican-American female Republican to serve in that body. She was also the first female veteran and first naturalized citizen to hold the position.
In 2004, she was appointed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Advisory Committee on Women Veterans. She also received an appointment to the United States Census Bureau.
After her 2004 election loss, Sears started her own business. She opened a company that handled plumbing, electrical work, and home appliance repairs in Virginia.
In 2011, Governor Bob McDonnell appointed Sears to the Virginia Board of Education.
During the 2020 United States presidential election campaign, Sears supported Donald Trump. She was the national chairwoman for a group called "Black Americans to Re-elect the President."
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
2021 Election for Lieutenant Governor
On May 11, 2021, Winsome Sears won the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor of Virginia. She won after several rounds of voting. On November 2, she won the election along with Glenn Youngkin, who became governor. She became the 42nd lieutenant governor of Virginia on January 15, 2022. She is Virginia's first female lieutenant governor. She is also the first Jamaican-American woman to hold a statewide office in Virginia.
2025 Election for Governor
On September 5, 2024, Winsome Earle-Sears announced she was running for governor of Virginia in the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election. If she wins, she will be the state's first female governor. She would also be the first Black woman elected governor anywhere in the United States.
Political Views
Education
Sears has called for more choices in education. She supports opening more charter schools, lab schools, and virtual schools in Virginia.
She has also discussed how American history should be taught. Sears believes that all parts of American history should be taught.
After the COVID-19 pandemic affected schooling, Sears suggested ideas to help students catch up. These ideas included having school year-round or making school days longer.
Gun Policy
Sears supports gun rights. During her 2021 campaign, she used a photo of herself with a rifle on her campaign materials. This image helped her gain support among Republicans.
Personal Life
Winsome Sears is married to Terence Sears. She has three daughters. Sadly, one of her daughters and two granddaughters died in a car crash in 2012. As of 2016, she and her family live in Winchester. She is a devoted Christian. Before entering politics, she wrote a Christian self-help book called Stop Being a Christian Wimp!.
See also
In Spanish: Winsome Sears para niños
