President Trump has yet to formally endorse Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) in the state’s gubernatorial race just one day out from Election Day.
To be sure, the president still has time to endorse her and is participating in a Virginia telerally on Monday evening.
But over the weekend, Trump rolled out a slew of endorsements on Truth Social for 2026 midterm election candidates, including gubernatorial contenders, but Earle-Sears was noticeably not included.
Earlier this year, Trump formally backed New Jersey Republican gubernatorial contender Jack Ciattarelli. He also backed incumbent Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) following news of a texting scandal involving Democratic nominee Jay Jones last month.
Last week, Trump weighed in on Virginia and New Jersey’s governor’s races, writing that a vote for the Democratic candidates is a “death wish.” Trump has also spoken positively about Earle-Sears.
“I haven’t been too much involved in Virginia — I love the state; I did very well in the state,” Trump told reporters last month. “I think the Republican candidate is very good, and she should win because the Democrat candidate is a disaster.”
Earle-Sears, in turn, thanked the president for his support in a post on the social platform X.
Trump’s involvement in this year’s governor’s race is a stark contrast to the 2021 gubernatorial race, when the president was eager to campaign for then-Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin. Youngkin did not appear with Trump on the campaign trail while his opponent, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), unsuccessfully worked to tie Youngkin to Trump. Youngkin fully embraced Trump after he was elected.
However, Earle-Sears and Trump have a more complicated history.
The lieutenant governor criticized Trump following Republicans’ underwhelming 2022 midterm performance, saying in an interview that a true leader understands when they have become a liability. Trump hit back at Earle-Sears, calling her “a phony” and saying he never felt good about her.
If Trump does not end up formally backing Earle-Sears, it could end up being a blessing in disguise for the lieutenant governor given Trump’s unpopularity in the state. An Emerson College/The Hill poll released on Saturday showed Trump with a 45 percent job approval and a 54 percent disapproval rating.
