Virginia Will Elect Its First Woman Governor This Year

Thefieldforoneofthisyear’stwogubernatorialracesisset.InVirginia,Lt.Gov.WinsomeEarle-SearsistheRepublicannominee.Twopotentialcompetitors,formerstateSen.AmandaChaseandformerstateRep.DaveLaRock,bothfailedtogarnerenoughsignaturestomaketheballot. “I’mproudtoofficiallybetheRepublicannomineeforGovernorofVirginia,”Earle-SearswroteonX.“We’vemadegreatprogressoverthepastfouryears,butthefightforourCommonwealthisfarfromover.I’mreadytoleadthatfightandbuildasafer,stronger,moreprosperousVirginiaforeveryfamily.” Earle-SearswillfaceDemocratAbigailSpanberger,aformermemberofCongress.ApollreleasedinFebruaryshowedSpanbergerwithadouble-digitlead,39percentto24percent,withathirdofvotersundecided.OnMonday,Spanberger’scampaignannouncedithadraisednearly$7million,arecordfirst-quarterhaulinthestate. RepublicanGov.GlennYoungkinispreventedfromrunningforreelectionduetoVirginialawlimitinggovernorstoasinglefour-yearterm.ThelackofincumbentsrunninginVi