Virginia’s 2021 election cycle isn’t quite over, and redistricting on congressional districts isn’t complete, but GOP candidates are ramping up their campaigns for the nomination in Virginia’s seventh district. On Tuesday, lieutenant governor-elect Winsome Sears spoke at a campaign kickoff for Tina Ramirez, who also ran for the nomination for the seat in 2020.
“Winning feels good, doesn’t it,” Sears said. “We changed things. People have started looking and thinking, well how did they do that? That’s because of you. We did it because you got involved.”
Sears emphasized the importance of Virginians’ ongoing involvement in campaigns heading into 2022.
“We need your hands, your feet, talking to people, manning the polls, handing out yard signs, putting on bumper stickers, giving money, did I say that? Giving money to get it done,” Sears said.
Campaign staff said about 450 people attended the event.
“We had such a great victory, and I’m so thankful to Winsome Sears for being here and for the work that she did to help right the course and the direction in Virginia,” Ramirez said. “But look: as she said, our job is not done. It’s not done. Regardless of what we did, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Abigail Spanberger, the squad, they all dug in their heels. They didn’t listen, because last week, what did they do? They passed more wasteful spending. And they’re still trying to trample on our rights and freedoms.”
“So we can’t stop,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez first announced her campaign in July. Other GOP contenders include intelligence officer John Castorani, former Army Ranger Derrick Anderson, former McDonnell appointee Taylor Keeney, and Senator Bryce Reeves (R-Spotsylvania.) Gary Barve recently dropped out of the race. But more candidates are expected to enter the race, including Delegate John McGuire (R-Richmond), who has hinted at a potential run.
Senator Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield) sparred with Reeves after he announced his candidacy, part of a years-long feud between Chase and Senate Republican Caucus leadership, including Reeves. Chase’s campaign filed her statement of candidacy for the race on November 11.
“The caveat to that is that we’ll officially announce when we see where the lines are drawn,” Chase told The Virginia Star.
“I don’t really see any serious contenders, which is why I’m filing the paperwork,” she said.
Chase said that even if she’s not in the newly-drawn seventh district, she’ll probably run for Congress.
“I think the only reason she wouldn’t run is the fifth [district], because it’s Bob Good’s,” Chase spokesperson Shayne Snavely said.
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Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Winsome Sears” by Winsome Sears. Background Photo “Tina Ramirez Event” by Tina Ramirez.Â
