Louise Lucas: “[...] Winsome Earle Sears took a page out of Donald Trump’s debate playbook — interrupt, interrupt, interrupt — anything to avoid real answers or substance.”
VIRGINIA – As Winsome Earle-Sears flopped and flailed at tonight’s gubernatorial debate, Virginians took notice, calling her out and naming Abigail Spanberger the clear winner. In a key moment, Sears said that her opposition to marriage equality or her support for LGTBQ+ Americans being fired for being gay is “not discrimination.”
What Virginians are seeing:
- Louise Lucas [@SenLouiseLucas]:I am here at NSU listening to the debate and it’s obvious Winsome Earle Sears took a page out of Donald Trump’s debate playbook — interrupt, interrupt, interrupt — anything to avoid real answers or substance.
- Barbara Comstock [@BarbaraComstock]:In 2025, 10 yrs after the Supreme Court has decided ( in 2015) that gay couples have the right to marry, and @GlennYoungkin signed a bill also supporting this right, @WinsomeSears demonstrates her bigotry once again in tonight’s debate (where she also wouldn’t stop babbling and talking over everyone when it wasn’t her time)
- Barbara Comstock [@BarbaraComstock]:Abigail has earned the support of Police (who usually support Rs) firefighters, Dems, Independents and Republicans because she puts Virginia first. @WinsomeSears puts Trump first and still can’t even get his endorsement.
- Trevor Metcalfe, Virginian Pilot [@TrevorEMetcalfe]: !!! Sears says that the belief that gay people should not be allowed to marry, "isn't discrimination." Ditto for someone being fired because of their sexual orientation.
- Chaz Nuttycombe [@ChazNuttycombe]: Spanberger: My opponent says gay couples should not be able to marry. Sears: That's not discrimination!
- Sarah Longwell, The Bulwark [@SarahLongwell25]: Winsome Earle-Sears is very strange. Republicans ran a lot of bizarre candidates just like her in 2022 and most were handily defeated in what should have been a strong cycle for Republicans.
- Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg [@ScVanValkenburg]:More and more people are saying this. Qt: Winsome Earle-Sears is a bad candidate.
- Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg [@ScVanValkenburg]: Most importantly [Sears] doesn’t have a plan to improve learning in the classroom. At all. No plan.
- Sam Shirazi [@samshirazim]:Earle-Sears says her opposition to same-sex marriage and protections for gay employees “is not discrimination” [...]
- Matt Corridoni [@mattcorridoni]: Earle-Sears’ erratic behavior is a preview into what her governorship might look like. Truly a wild debate performance that demonstrates she doesn’t have the leadership skills required. Compare this to @SpanbergerForVA who built a career calmly delivering under pressure #VAGov
- Eric Michael Garcia, the Independent [@EricMGarcia]: Sears also said that being fired for being gay “is not discrimination” #VAGov
- Graham Moomaw, the Richmonder [@gmoomaw]: Youngkin kinda danced around gay marriage questions in 2021 by saying he was personally opposed but accepted it legally. This ain’t that.
- Sarah Longwell, the Bulwark [@SarahLongwell25]: Eh, I’m pretty sure it’s discrimination.
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