Virginia’s Second Gentleman Terrence Sears Steps In for His Wife

Terrence Sears, Virginia’s Second Gentleman, took the stage for the Republicans on Friday in light of his wife, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earl Sears, being unable to campaign due to her responsibilities in a last-minute redistricting session. This situation has stirred up some frustration, especially for Terrence, who isn’t usually one to raise his voice.

He expressed his anger at the political maneuvering during an event held at the Obenshain family farm in Montgomery County, not too far from Virginia Tech. Winsome was expected to join him but had to remain at the state Capitol, which is quite a trek—about 200 miles along Route 460.

Terrence recounted a similar scenario just the day before in Fredericksburg, which is only about an hour from Richmond. There, Democratic strategies appeared to keep Earl Sears in her role as Senate president while sidelining her from campaigning.

“I’m angry because of what the Democrats did to my wife,” he declared, reflecting on his experience as a former Marine Corps lieutenant.

He noted that Earl Sears had been looking forward to the rally. This particular gathering was hosted by a well-known Republican family, whose members currently represent various areas like Blacksburg and Harrisonburg in Congress.

“She would have loved to be here with you, but you see the games they’re playing to keep her out of the campaign. If you want to avoid turning Virginia into places like Maryland or California, it’s important to vote,” he emphasized. His journey had taken him all the way to Stump in Southside, a few hours from his home in Winchester.

Sears made it clear that he and his fellow candidates aim to ensure Virginia remains a desirable place to live while prioritizing education. The event also featured Rep. Chris Obenshain and Rep. Morgan Griffith, who both voiced their opinions on the ongoing redistricting efforts.

Mr. Griffith pointed out that if the new map proposed by Senate President Pro Tem L. Louise Lucas goes through, he could potentially be the last Republican in Virginia’s congressional delegation. He criticized the timing of the special session amidst voting activities.

As Griffith introduced his lieutenant governor candidate, John Reed, he referenced Reed’s father, noting that Jack Reed had observed a notable shift in Democratic conduct, to the point where he jokingly began distributing “BS Deflector” sunglasses in Congress. This, Griffith shared, could come in handy during the current divisive atmosphere.

He recalled Jack’s words: “When the speaker does something really stupid, we’ll put on a BS deflector.” Griffith humorously added that signals were being sent loud and clear, paralleling his introduction of John Reed.