RICHMOND, Virginia — Stacey Buckingham sat out of the last presidential election.
The longtime Republican and Richmond, Virginia, resident wasn’t going to vote for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, and President Donald Trump‘s “bull in a china shop” approach to pretty much everything drove her away. Instead, Buckingham focused her attention on local and state elections, figuring that’s where her vote would count the most.
Virginia is one of two states in the country that holds governor races a year after a presidential election. The candidates for the primaries and general election are scrutinized for early signs of voter sentiment ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, which can flip which party controls Congress.
Buckingham thought she was voting for Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears but told the Washington Examiner she’s not sure now. The Republican front-runner’s message has become muddled in recent weeks, and Buckingham isn’t certain what the lieutenant governor stands for anymore.
“Is she a Trumper? Was she ever?” Buckingham asked. “Or is she more of a [Gov. Glenn] Youngkin Republican? I thought she was more like the governor, but it seems she doesn’t know what she stands for. If that’s the case, how does she expect the voters to know?”
Earle-Sears, Virginia‘s first black female lieutenant governor, earned Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R-VA) seal of approval and was on her way to winning her party’s nomination when her momentum was blunted by two mega-MAGA candidates, former Republican state Sen. Amanda Chase and former Republican state Del. Dave LaRock, jumping into the race. Earle-Sears was already eyed with mistrust by MAGA members over comments she made in 2022 about how the Republican Party should move on from Trump. The president, in turn, referred to her as a “phony.”
To make matters worse, Trump made it clear that any person or company who worked with “Birdbrain” Nikki Haley isn’t welcome. Earle-Sears’s consulting firm, ColdSpark, was recently brought on to help revamp her campaign. However, ColdSpark, a Pennsylvania-based firm that ran Haley‘s unsuccessful presidential campaign, could hurt Earle-Sears’s campaign if Trump instructs his base to stay away.
WINSOME EARLE-SEARS FACES SETBACKS AS SHE AIMS TO SUCCEED YOUNGKIN IN VIRGINIA
However, that is only one of her problems, former Democratic Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder told the Washington Examiner.
“The main problem is that she’s not connected to the Republican Party in itself,” he said. “There have been four or maybe five times in ruling from the chair as lieutenant governor where she has been overruled by the party at large.
“That’s huge in how that party regards her. I’m not trying to brag, but I can’t recall a time when I was ever overruled while lieutenant governor. You usually have a sound reason when you’re going up there to what your support level is. What has happened to her is one of the most embarrassing things that could ever happen,” he said.
Wilder, who became Virginia’s first black governor in 1990, said it’s not just the MAGA Republicans who have questions about her.
“She’s lacking the independent vote,” he said. “The real question is: How has the Republican Party been there for her? Take away the fact that she’s a woman, that she’s a minority. What would you say was significant about her time in office? That’s what people are asking, and there’s no real answer.”
Despite the concerns, Earle-Sears and her Democratic challenger, Abigail Spanberger, announced Monday they submitted their petition signatures to earn their spots on the ballot.
Under state law, candidates must collect 10,000 signatures, including 400 from qualified voters in each of the state’s 11 congressional districts, to qualify for the ballot.
Spanberger’s campaign said she submitted more than 40,000 signatures, while Earle-Sears’s campaign submitted nearly 20,000.
“With their support, we will win this race,” Earle-Sears said in a statement after turning in her signatures. “Today just reaffirms that we have got what it takes to make that happen. I am committed to leading our Commonwealth with integrity, vision, and a steadfast dedication to the values that make Virginia exceptional.”
Spanberger, who worked for the CIA before representing Virginia’s 7th Congressional District from 2019 to 2025, pitched herself as a candidate for both parties.
“As one of the most bipartisan members of Congress, I built a record of cutting through the political grandstanding, bringing people together, and getting things done,” she said. “As Virginia’s next governor, I will do the same — find common ground to deliver on the issues that matter most to Virginians.”
The Democratic Party of Virginia hired a mobile billboard truck that spent the day circling the Virginia Department of Elections. The billboard said, “The GOP Nominee for Governor will be Chaotic. Extreme. Bad for Virginia.” The sign also had gigantic pictures of Chase, LaRock, and Earle-Sears on it.
It is unclear whether Chase or LaRock were able to collect the signatures needed for the gubernatorial ballot, though they have until April 3 to do so.