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In an event that is being referred to as a “Wednesday night massacre” by people close to the situation, Republican lieutenant governor candidate Winsome Sears has fired her campaign manager and several members of her staff.
“Like any campaign, we have to make strategic decisions that best position us for victory,” said Tucker Davis, a senior advisor to Sears. “We are focused on running a lean campaign over the next 55 days, and using all of our resources to get our message out to voters.”
An anonymous source with intimate knowledge of the situation says that the campaign manager for Sears, C.J. Jordan, was included among the staff terminations. Jordan has not responded to Virginia Scope.
The terminated staff was notified by an email from a law firm, according to Mike Allers, the former press secretary for Sears. They were not given a reason.
Close sources with knowledge of the inner workings of the campaign say that the Republican consulting firm Creative Direct was hired recently and is running the campaign now.
This is the second time that Sears has seen a complete staff turnover on her lieutenant governor campaign — the first being after winning the convention earlier this summer.
Recent polling from Monmouth shows Democratic nominee Hala Ayala with a one-point lead over Sears, who with just nine days until early voting begins, believes her position is strong and is making these drastic changes to her campaign.
“Winsome Sears is in strong position to become Virginia’s next Lieutenant Governor,” Davis said in his statement provided to Virginia Scope Wednesday night. “All recent public and private polling shows her leading or within the margin of error, even before beginning any substantial advertising. The environment is shifting as voters see what one party control means in Richmond and Washington. Virginia voters are prepared to reject the far left extremism of Hala Ayala.“
Glenn Youngkin, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, did not provide a comment Wednesday night.
Also on the ballot Nov. 2 are the governor, attorney general, and all 100 House of Delegates seats. Early voting begins on Sept. 17.
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