Staffers for Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears held a virtual information session on March 5 with supporters to provide an update on her campaign, signature collection efforts, and her relationship with former President Donald Trump as she seeks his endorsement.
Leaked audio obtained by Virginia Scope shows staff also criticized her potential primary opponents, saying they “would be the last two people picked for the dodgeball team.”
The event was promoted as an opportunity to “join Team Winsome for Governor as we make our final push for petitions. Hear updates about the 100 Club, the political team, and where to return any outstanding petitions!”
During the event, members of Sears’ team said conversations with Trump’s team have taken place while also noting they believe Sears is more conservative than Trump.
Sears has faced pushback from die-hard Trump supporters since 2022, when she said she believed it was time for him to step away from politics and not run for president again.
Now, with Trump rising from the ashes after his 2020 loss and reclaiming his role as the dominant voice in the Republican Party, his endorsement carries significant weight in GOP nomination contests.
Sears is running against two Republicans, former state Sen. Amanda Chase and former Del. Dave LaRock, both of whom are well-regarded in Trump-aligned circles and were vocal opponents of certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
During the call, a participant asked Sears’ staff about her relationship with Trump supporters.
Cole Trower, who said he’s been on Sears’ team since May, responded.
“Let’s just be clear,” Trower said. “Winsome Sears is no mealy mouth politician, and you tell me one policy that she disagrees with on the president, and we can have a conversation. She is ideologically right there with Trump.”
Trower said that he believes Sears is more conservative than Trump.
“And if you want to be clear, I think she’s more conservative than Donald Trump, who I love and respect greatly. But to be honest with you, I think Winsome Sears is more conservative than he is. And the reality is that in [2024], there was a lot of candidates that were looking to enter the race. One was Glenn Youngkin possibly going to run. You had Ron DeSantis. You had Tim Scott. So there was some other candidates there that some people… you know… hindsight is 2020.”
Trower pointed out to participants that Sears was not the only Republican who didn’t support Trump.
“I’ll call you a liar if you say every person you know said today that they were for Trump then because they weren’t,” he said. “I was. But I can tell you not everybody on this call probably was.”
“So the reality is that she wanted someone else,” Trower continued. “She thought someone else could win this.”
Trower told the participants that Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Trump communicate multiple times a week and that Youngkin would not have endorsed Sears if the president did not want him to.
“To be honest with you, Glenn Youngkin and Winsome Sears are very close,” he said. “And President Trump, from what I understand, talks to Glenn Youngkin three times a week. And Governor Youngkin would not be endorsing the lieutenant governor if President Trump had a problem with it.”
Trower was asked if Sears is seeking Trump’s endorsement.
“I know right now that there are conversations between the campaign and political affairs team,” he responded.
Chase said in an interview with Virginia Scope this week that she received a call from the White House to inform her that the president is watching this race.
Trower also discussed Chase and LaRock as well. He applauded their conservative values but implied they are very weak candidates who could not win. He also told the participants that he doesn’t believe LaRock and Chase will even make the ballot by turning in 10,000 signatures before April 3.
“I’ll shoot you straight,” he said. “I know the other two candidates. Are they conservative? Sure, but if this was P.E. class, they would be the last two people picked for the dodgeball team. These people are not going to be on the ballot, in my opinion, and if they want a little attention, they can get a little attention. And maybe some people that are helping them can make a little money on the side, you know, whatever. But Winsome Sears is going to be the Republican nominee.”
Chase responded to these comments in an interview with Virginia Scope Friday.
“He certainly has a right to his opinion. But number one, I don’t have paid staff, so nobody’s making money off Amanda Chase,” she said. “My entire operation is grassroots, and nobody’s making money.”
She also pointed to recent polling that has shown Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger with a lead over Sears.
“Second, that’s pretty arrogant, and maybe he should read the press clips about his candidate being down double digits in the polls and about her third round of campaign consultants that have left the campaign.”
“This is a classic case of confession through projection by a paid mercenary,” Chase continued. “It’s unfortunate that the Sears campaign has had such issues with paid political staff and consultants. I really feel for her.”
LaRock did not answer a phone call from Virginia Scope Friday.
The Sears team, in the March 5 event, said they are focused only on the general election and looking beyond the potential primary.
“I’ll be straight forward with you, we’re not focused on the primary, we’re focused on the general election,” he said.
Richard Wagner, another Sears staffer, said they are expecting Sears to turn in her signatures on Monday at 12 p.m., which is when candidates are first allowed to submit their petitions.
“I wanted to get everyone on a call to just give you an idea of where we were at and, uh, kind of stress the importance of getting these back by March 10th,” he said. We’re really just trying to get them back on March 10th so that we can sort them all how we need to and get this all turned in when filing opens March 17th at 12 p.m. So it’s going to be super, super important for us to get these back.”
A spokesperson for the Sears campaign responded to Virginia Scope’s inquiry about these comments by referring to past statements that they remain focused on November.
If at least two of the candidates make the ballot, there will be a primary election on June 17.