Two Republican state lawmakers have jumped into the race to succeed Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) as Virginia‘s next chief executive, threatening Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears‘s (R-VA) lock on the GOP nomination.

Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears began the week as the clear Republican gubernatorial frontrunner, but in just days, her once-uncontested path to the nomination has turned into a primary fight. With 10 months until Virginia’s gubernatorial election,

Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R-VA) now has some competition to become the Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee, as former Del. Dave LaRock has also filed to run for governor this year. LaRock, who portrays himself as an ally to President Donald Trump on X,

Dave LaRock and Amanda Chase, both former Virginia legislators, have announced their intent to run for governor. They seek to challenge Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears for the GOP nomination in the

The filing sets up a Republican primary for governor between Winsome Earle-Sears and Dave LaRock, with Democrat Abigail Spanberger currently running unopposed.

Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate who resigned her US House seat to run for governor was leading Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in a Roanoke College Poll.