Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears' 'fatal flaw'contributed to her not becoming the next governor of Virginia

Election was held in Virginia on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Two women had campaigned to become the first female Governor of Virginia in the state's 253-year history.

• Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a 61-year-old Black Republican
• Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a 46-year-old Caucasian Democrat

Spanberger was ahead in the polls leading up to the history-making election. We all know that polls don't determine who will win an election. However, in this election, Spanberger was elected in a landslide, securing 1,940,899 (57.32%) of the vote while her opponent received 1,438,662 (42.48%). It was the biggest landslide for any Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Virginia since 1961.

From this point on, the focus of this article will be on Earle-Sears and why critics say she lost the election. If she had won, she would have become the first female governor of Virginia and the first Black female governor in the nation. In other words, she had a lot to lose, and she did.

Commentators have pointed out one thing, among others, that contributed to Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears not becoming the next Governor of Virginia. It was her "fatal flaw."

Fatal Flaw Definition

"A fatal flaw is a fault, mistake, or weakness in someone that means that person will certainly fail."

Virginia Mercury published an interesting article explaining why Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears did not get enough votes to become the first female governor of Virginia. The news outlet stated that Earle-Sears missed the mark, which can be described as her fatal flaw. Politico said, "She was deeply flawed and did not focus enough on the economy."

Winsome Earle-Sears' Fatal Flaw

In many of Earle-Sears' speeches and advertisements, she neglected to emphasize an essential point for Black Americans and Virginians. She never mentioned the shoulders she stood on to be in line to become the first governor of the state. Instead of mentioning generations in Virginia, she constantly said, "I was a Marine."

Her campaign leaned heavily on the imagery of her identity — a Jamaican immigrant, a Marine, a barrier-breaker — while offering little policy substance for those whose votes she needed to win the election.

Virginia Mercury said:

"She wielded her immigrant identity as a way to separate herself from the very people who paved the road she walked. She played identity politics in reverse; she used her background and presence as a Black woman not to unite, but to distance."

Virginia Mercury concluded:

The tragedy of Earle-Sears’ campaign was not simply that she lost, but that she squandered a rare opportunity. A Black woman atop a statewide ticket in Virginia — the former capital of the Confederacy — could have been a profound moment of unity. She could have spoken to the pain and promise of Virginia shared past, embodying the bridge between history and hope."

There are other areas in which Earle-Sears could have improved, but even Politico said she was "deeply flawed and did not focus enough on the economy." In many of her campaign speeches and even in her concession speech, she mentioned being a Jamaican and a Marine.

Social Media Comments

Many people commented on social media that Earle-Sears missed the mark. They said she repeatedly emphasized her personal identity rather than focusing on the needs of Virginians.

Here is a random sample of over 500 social media comments:

• "Winsome Earle-Sears was NOT a good fit for Virginia. Not in tune with the people of the Commonwealth."
• "I didn't vote for WES b/c of how she behaved during the debate w/ Spanberger. Talking down to & over Spanberger was rude, immature, uncalled for, unprofessional, condescending, & tacky. Her behavior & politics kept her from winning."
• "Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears' conduct during the debate with Rep. Abigail Spanberger was deeply troubling. Her combative style—interrupting, dismissing, and showing disrespect—turned viewers off. Virginians want a governor who leads with dignity, not aggression. Respectful leadership matters. And in this case, it was her tone and tactics—not her background—that cost her broader support."
• "Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears’ identity-driven messaging was her primary downfall."
• "She should change her name from WINsome to LOSSsome."

There are many more similar comments. Feel free to add your comments to this article.