Virginia Lt. Governor Winsome Sears on Thursday reportedly declined to endorse former President Donald Trump when asked by reporters in a move just hours after Governor Glenn Youngkin formally announced his endorsement for the former president.
Sears was asked about a potential Trump endorsement while walking to the Virginia Senate, and reporter Graham Moomaw reported she replied, “Everyone has to make their own decision.”
Moomaw added that Sears then referenced a Bible verse about ancient Israelite kings who rejected God.
On her way into the Senate today, Virginia LG @winwithwinsome was asked whether she’ll back Trump or not.
“Everybody has to make their own decision,” she said.
— Graham Moomaw (@gmoomaw) March 7, 2024
Sears’s statement contrasts starkly with Youngkin’s endorsement, which the governor posted on Wednesday to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“Voters in the Commonwealth and across the country have spoken loudly for President Donald J. Trump and I endorse him for President of the United States,” wrote Youngkin in his statement.
The governor added that Trump’s “record on border security, restoring American leadership around the world, reducing taxes and lowering the cost of living for all Americans stands in sharp contrast” to Biden’s term in office.
Youngkin declared on X that it is “time to unite around strong leadership and policies that grow our great nation, not four more years of President Biden.”
It’s time to unite around strong leadership and policies that grow our great nation, not four more years of President Biden. pic.twitter.com/jnF1iFVRkk
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) March 7, 2024
Sears’ refusal to endorse Trump follows remarks she made about the former president in 2022 when she told Fox Business she “just couldn’t” support him in 2024.
She declared the former president a political “liability” and blamed Trump for the Republican Party’s unimpressive returns in that year’s midterm elections. Sears (pictured above, left) then claimed Republican voters gave Trump a “very clear message” to “step off the stage.”
At the time, a spokesman for Trump called the remarks “a slap to the face to all of the grassroots Republicans that worked so hard to get [Sears] elected.” The spokesman continued, “They won’t forget this and there will be a reckoning. There always is in politics.”
Sears doubled down on her break from Trump in her 2023 memoir, according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch.
While she acknowledged she agreed with Trump’s policies, Sears condemned the January 6 protests and declared, “For the good of the nation, I do not think he should run again in 2024.”
Less than a year after her book was published, Trump is poised for a rematch against former President Joe Biden after the last remaining Republican candidate opposing him, Nikki Haley, ended her campaign.
John Fredericks, the host of the John Fredericks Show and publisher of The Virginia Star, called Sears the “ultimate VA loser” and referenced the speculation that she plans to run for governor in a post to X. “I can’t wait for her weasel announcement,” wrote Fredericks.
Well, Well, Well. The ultimate VA loser #NeverTrumper @WinsomeSears won’t support Trump. I can’t wait for her weasel announcement for VA Gov. LMAO! Maybe she’ll hire @KenCuccinelli to run her bus tour like he did for @GovDeSantis He can flush $500 Mil again! 🚽🧻 @LaCivitaC https://t.co/M22sc39ndL
— John Fredericks (@jfradioshow) March 7, 2024
“Maybe she’ll hire [Ken Cuccinelli] to run her bus tour,” added Fredericks, comparing a future Sears gubernatorial campaign to the suspended presidential campaign of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Virginia limits its governors to one consecutive term, meaning Youngkin cannot run again in 2025.
Though only one Republican candidate, Merle Rutledge, has announced his intention to run, both Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares are considered the most likely to secure the party’s nomination in 2025.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Winsome Sears” by Lieutenant Governor of Virginia.
