Handwritten notes revealed Sears is “morally opposed” to protecting reproductive freedom

VIRGINIA – New reporting from the Virginia Independent details how Winsome Earle-Sears is campaigning with an anti-abortion group that aims to enact a nationwide abortion ban. 

“Winsome Earle-Sears campaigning with another extreme anti-abortion group signals her extreme agenda to enact a near-total abortion ban in Virginia. While Virginians deserve a governor who puts Virginia first, Sears is choosing to stand with a group who has repeatedly attacked reproductive freedom,” said DPVA Spokesperson Maggie Amjad.

Virginia Independent: Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears cozies up to anti-abortion group on campaign trail

• Members of the organization, founded by anti-abortion lobbyist and political consultant Ralph Reed, have long supported bans and restrictions on the procedure.  
• Earle-Sears cast a tie-breaking vote as recently as January 2025, blocking state Senate Bill 1105, which established the right to obtain and use U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved contraception, including condoms, intrauterine devices, and emergency contraception. 
• According to the Virginia Mercury, after the bill was voted on a second time and passed, Earle-Sears signed it, but not before she added a handwritten note along with her signature saying, “I am morally opposed to this bill; [...].” 
• During an interview on Newsmax in 2021, Earle-Sears said she supported a six-week abortion ban similar to the one in Texas, and in that same year, the Winchester Star reported that she voiced her support for banning abortion in all cases, except when the life of the mother is in danger. 
• Spanberger gave an interview to 8News in May 2025, vowing her support for a proposed amendment to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution. 
• A recent poll by Virginia Commonwealth University found that 62% of Virginians supported enshrining the right to abortion in the Virginia Constitution.

###