Virginia Governor's Race Heats Up with Trump Ally's Rally Amid Criticism

Tue Sep 23 2025 09:05:03 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Republican Winsome Earle-Sears invites Vivek Ramaswamy to revitalize support for her gubernatorial campaign, while Democrats highlight his controversial role in job cuts.

In the absence of Donald Trump from the Virginia gubernatorial race, Winsome Earle-Sears has enlisted Vivek Ramaswamy, a notable Trump ally, to energize her campaign. The rally, set against a backdrop of job losses linked to Trump's policies, has sparked criticism from Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who argues Ramaswamy's participation shows Earle-Sears' failure to advocate for Virginians affected by federal workforce cuts. The stakes are high, with the state projected to lose thousands of jobs due to these cuts, raising questions about the election's implications.

CHESTERFIELD, Va. — With President Donald Trump not actively participating in Virginia's race for governor, Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears is bringing in a significant Trump ally to rally supporters. The event featuring Vivek Ramaswamy, a former presidential candidate now running for Ohio governor, is set for Friday evening in suburban Richmond.

However, Ramaswamy's past connection to Trump's controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which contributed to significant federal job losses, has prompted enthusiastic opposition from Democrats. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate, has called on Earle-Sears to cancel the rally, emphasizing the detrimental impact of Ramaswamy's policies that led to thousands of job losses in Virginia.

The stakes of the upcoming governor's election are underscored by predictions that the state could experience the loss of approximately 32,000 federal jobs this year alone due to DOGE’s budget cuts. Earle-Sears is perceived as a strong supporter of Trump's MAGA agenda, yet Trump's decision to stay away from her campaign may reflect concerns over her prospects in the election.

Spanberger asserts that inviting Ramaswamy to speak reveals Earle-Sears’ unwillingness to support Virginians suffering from job cuts. If she can’t even do that now, Spanberger remarked, Virginians certainly shouldn’t expect her to stand up for them as governor. Meanwhile, Earle-Sears has expressed eagerness for Trump to join her campaign, highlighting the ongoing rift in Republican support in the state.

As the election approaches, the focus remains on how these connections to Trump's policies will influence voter sentiment in a state that has endured the brunt of his administrative decisions.