Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earl Sears took aim at MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on Wednesday, after it was suggested that her vote against Democratic challenger Abigail Spanberger might be sexist.
Co-hosts Mika Brzezinski and Jonathan Lemire, along with commentator Molly Jonfast, expressed concerns that Spanberger and New Jersey’s Democratic candidate, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, weren’t stepping away from the race due to issues of race, pointing to sexism as a factor.
Sears, who is also Virginia’s lieutenant governor, responded to the segment by questioning, “Who wants to tell?” This pointed out that either candidate would mark a historic milestone as the first female governor of Virginia if elected.
In a related conversation, Brzezinski emphasized the significance of electing female Democratic candidates, highlighting their impressive backgrounds, like Spanberger’s military experience. She urged them to “fight, fight, fight,” stressing the need for their representation.
Commentator John Fast mentioned that Sherrill was actively campaigning in New Jersey against former Congressman Jack Ciattarelli, but there seemed to be concerns regarding the election results. Lemire noted that both candidates are currently leading in their polls, although the races are still competitive.
He acknowledged a few missteps in Sherrill’s campaign but maintained she was still ahead by a narrow margin in polling. Regarding Spanberger, he remarked that her lead was somewhat larger in Virginia, but with the election approaching, the battles for both seats are tough.
Lemire further suggested that lingering societal issues like misogyny could be affecting these races. “Democrats are facing a challenge as we’ve nominated women in two of the last three presidential elections and faced losses,” he remarked, pointing out that this creates complications moving forward.
Brzezinski countered that other nations do not seem to encounter the same difficulties when it comes to electing women into leadership roles.
