NORFOLK, VIRGINIA – Today, an elected leader and Virginians called out Winsome-Earle Sears for cheering on the attacks on Virginia jobs and Trump’s tax bill that’s stripping 322,000 Virginians of health insurance. 
 
“As a representative of federal workers, I know firsthand how harmful Trump’s attacks on Virginia jobs have been,” said Sheila Elliott, Past President of AFGE Local 2328 which represents federal workers. “For Winsome Earle-Sears to say she doesn’t understand that it’s a ‘huge, huge thing’ to lose your job’ is outright dismissive and proves that she can’t be trusted to fight for Virginia.”
 
“There are thousands of Virginians who rely on Medicaid for countless different reasons,” said Athena Jones, Virginian with a personal Medicaid story.  “Right now, we are facing instability and uncertainty and people are scared — rightfully so. Instead of offering solutions, Winsome Earle-Sears told Virginians ‘don’t panic’ and cheered the cuts on, saying Trump’s tax bill ‘does so many great things.’” 
 
“Winsome Earle-Sears is pushing a dangerous and extreme agenda that threatens everything Virginians hold dear. She supports a near-total abortion ban, cheered on Donald Trump’s reckless tax bill that’s stripping healthcare from over 322,000 Virginians, and continues to back his attacks on our economy and our jobs,” said Senator Angelia Williams Graves. “This isn’t leadership. It’s extremism and Virginia deserves better.” 
 
Here’s what to know about Sears’ extreme record: 

• Sears has defended Trump’s attacks on Virginia’s workforce and economy and she would help Trump “get the job done” if she were governor. 
• Sears was caught on tape dismissing and laughing off the attacks on Virginia jobs saying “the media is making it out to be a huge, huge thing… and I don’t understand why.” 
• After praising Trump’s tax bill saying it “does so many great things,” Sears told the 322,000 Virginians being stripped of their health insurance and six rural hospitals facing closure as a result of the bill, “don’t panic.”
• Sears supports an extreme six week abortion ban similar to the law that took effect in Texas that bans abortion before most women know they are pregnant.

  • Sears told Virginia women “we need to make our choices before we’re pregnant, not, you know, after, you already made a choice,” and left a handwritten note that she is “morally opposed to this bill [...]” on the constitutional amendment that would protect reproductive freedom in Virginia, including contraception, abortion, and IVF. 

• Sears has a long record of supporting legislation that would cut funding from Virginia’s public schools.
• Sears also left a handwritten note on a bill protecting marriage equality that she is “morally opposed” to the legislation and Sears doubled down on her opposition to marriage equality and refused to say that she would support anything other than civil unions for same-sex couples.

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