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VIENNA — Hundreds of supporters packed into what became an uncomfortably warm, standing-room only event Tuesday night at the Volunteer Fire Department in Vienna to watch the Republican statewide ticket appear together for the first time.
For an event billed as a unifying moment for the Republican nominees, who got off to a rocky start this year, the candidates did not themselves dwell for very long on their ticket-mates. Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, Attorney General Jason Miyares and conservative radio host John Reid, who are running for governor, attorney general and lieutenant governor, appeared on stage together for less than a minute at the end of the two-hour long rally.
Miyares and Earle-Sears both referenced each other and their win in 2021. Miyares called John Reid his friend and mentioned the latter’s time working in Ronald Reagan’s office. Earle-Sears didn’t reference Reid at all.
Earlier this year, Gov. Glenn Youngkin asked Reid to withdraw from the race. But after hyping up the crowd Tuesday, Youngkin explicitly endorsed Reid, saying that when there’s a 50-50 tie in the Senate, the radio host would “sign bills the right way and say no when they’re the wrong bills.”
Reid acknowledged the previous discord.
“I want you to know I didn’t get on this stage because the establishment in Richmond likes me,” said Reid, the first openly gay candidate for statewide office in Virginia. “You may have noticed.”
It was the first time Youngkin had appeared with all three candidates, and the first time he had publicly stood with Reid after he asked the lieutenant governor candidate to withdraw from the race. At the time, Youngkin had cited a social media account matching the username Reid uses elsewhere that contained risqué photos of men. Reid denied the account was his and refused to step down.
At the rally, Youngkin touted his own accomplishments in office — job growth, more people moving into Virginia than leaving, and significant deregulation.
“If you want opportunity, come to Virginia,” he said. “If you want opportunity, join this crowd. If you want opportunity, vote for Winsome Earle-Sears.”
Earle-Sears’s speech focused on criticisms of her opponent, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger, and the Democratic nominee for New York mayor Zohran Mamdani.
“I want to grow jobs, and (Spanberger) wants to grow government,” Earle-Sears said. “They’re going to turn us into Maryland. They’re going to turn us into New York and California.”
Chair of the Virginia Republican Party state Sen. Mark Peake also spoke.
“Are you ready to win bigly in November?” he asked the crowd, before saying that Earle-Sears, Reid and Miyares must win over their Democratic opponents.
Neither Earle-Sears nor Miyares faced any Republican challengers in a primary. And Reid became the presumptive nominee after Pat Herrity dropped out of the race, citing health concerns. Though Earle-Sears, Miyares and Reid had been the presumptive nominees for statewide office since April, the three had previously run solo campaigns.
“I am excited to see all three candidates campaign together,” said Carol Fox, chair of the Gainesville District on the Prince William County Republicans Committee. “It’s one thing I’ve been saying to (Earle-Sears) over and over and over again, ‘you need to campaign all three of you together.’”
Fox said the most important issue to her this election was tax policy and worried that Democrats in statewide office would mean an increase in taxes.
“I don’t understand their reasoning other than they want to spend it on stupid, frivolous things,” she said. “It’s my money, and guess what, I can spend my money better than the government can spend my money.”
The candidates appeared together on stage for maybe a minute before speaking — individually — to supporters.
Reid paused to speak to reporters. The other candidates did not.
“I know I’m a unique candidate,” he said. “I’m a little controversial. I wish that wasn’t the case, but it’s true. But I also think that there are a lot of conservative Democrats and independents that feel like the Democratic Party has gone too far to the left on certain social issues.”
Reid said he did not know if there would be future events planned with the whole ticket. When asked if he was disappointed the candidates did not appear together for long, he pointed to the enthusiastic turnout.
“You saw what I saw, you heard what I heard,” he said. “I’m just excited that this crowd was here.”
Meanwhile, across the street, more than 80 protesters stood in the rain bearing signs that read “Winsome’s silence makes us sick,” and “Medicaid saves kids.” The protest was organized by Democratic activist groups.
Kate Seltzer, 757-713-7881, kate.seltzer@virginiamedia.com
Originally Published:
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