VIRGINIA – This week, as Virginia lost its’ “Top State for Business” ranking and 322,000 Virginians are at risk of losing health insurance, it’s clear just how dangerous and devastating Winsome Earle-Sears’ extreme agenda is. 

SETTLING THIS WEEK’S SCORE 

Winsome’s Wins:

• BFFs with Betsy: New reporting from the American Journal News details that Winsome Earle-Sears took $40,000 from anti-public school former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and the DeVos family. This follows Sears’ long record of supporting legislation that would cut funding for Virginia’s public schools.

Winsome’s Losses:

• “Great Things”: Sears is coming under fire for praising Donald Trump’s tax bill that could strip 322,000 Virginians of health insurance and leave rural hospitals at risk of closing, saying it “does so many great things.” Virginians, healthcare providers, and hospitals are speaking out about the devastating impacts the legislation will have. 
• Return of the Nazi Donor: New reporting from Heartland Signal details how Winsome Earle-Sears attacked fellow Republican Cory Stewart for taking money from a Nazi sympathizer while she was taking money from Richard Iott, a known Nazi sympathizer and cosplayer. The contributions were first reported in June  and since then, Sears has refused to answer questions about the contributions to her campaign.
• Where is Winsome?: A new Cardinal News column blasted Winsome Earle-Sears for refusing to answer questions about her agenda or speak with local media. Yancey pointed out that this “isn’t normal” for a candidate for governor. 
• Roe Statement Resurfaced: New reporting from Dogwood details how Winsome Earle-Sears cheered on the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which left the door open to extreme restrictions on reproductive rights, and compared abortion to “slavery.” 

From healthcare cuts to falling business rankings, this week was just more proof that with Winsome, it’s Virginians who stand to lose the most.

• Bad for Business: CNBC announced that Virginia lost its “Top State for Business” ranking in part because of Donald Trump’s attacks on Virginia jobs that Winsome Earle-Sears has cheered on, downplayed, and dismissed. Sears was caught on tape saying “the media is making it out to be a huge, huge thing… and I don’t understand why.” The Washington Post pointed out that Sears has touted Virginia’s previous #1 CNBC ranking repeatedly on the campaign trail.

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