Following a shake up in Winsome Earle-Sears’ campaign, former Republican Delegate Dave LaRock confirming his bid to challenge Sears in the Republican primary for Governor of Virginia is making news across the Commonwealth.

This comes as LaRock launched a new campaign website in support of his bid.

What Virginians Are Reading:

WTOP: Election shake-up? Va. Republican explains why he wants to run against Youngkin’s pick in governor’s race

• A former Virginia lawmaker might be shaking up the state’s race for governor as he works to get on the ballot to challenge the candidate who has already been endorsed by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

• “I was approached by many conservatives from across the state who see the need for, perhaps, a different candidate,” said Dave LaRock, a Republican who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates for 10 years. “I’m very honored they would reach out to me and encourage me to run.”

• LaRock has supporters across Virginia gathering signatures. [...]

• When asked why he didn’t think Earle-Sears was the best choice for Republicans, he cited “defects as a candidate.”

• “I know Winsome, I like Winsome, but decisions that she’s made very publicly, I think will make it very difficult for her to unite the base that any candidate would need to be successful in running for this office,” LaRock said, hinting at negative comments Earle-Sears has made in the past about President Donald Trump.

Virginia Scope: LaRock is considering run for governor after to grassroots push to get him on the ballot

• Former Republican Del. Dave LaRock said he is considering a run for governor after a grassroots movement to get him on the ballot began this week. This could set up a potential primary race between him and Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears for the Republican nomination. 

• “There seems to be a pretty good grassroots push in that direction, and people collecting signatures to that effect,” LaRock said in an interview with Virginia Scope on Wednesday. [...]

• “Honestly, my phone’s been blowing up,” [Waverly Woods] said in an interview with Virginia Scope. “I thought [LaRock] was an amazing legislator. He has a great track record, and I’m hoping we can convince him to do it. This is a real grassroots movement, and I’m happy to get people motivated to do it.”

Tennessee Star: Former Virginia House Delegate Dave LaRock Confirms Interest in 2025 Governor Campaign

• Dave LaRock, who represented Virginia’s 33rd District in the House of Delegates for a decade before losing the primary in his 2023 bid for the State Senate, confirmed on Wednesday that he is considering entering the race for the Republican nomination for Governor of Virginia.

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