At a Vienna rally, Republican nominees Winsome Earle Sears decry their’ socialist opponents’

After a contentious primary the Republican nominees for Virginia’s next Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General took to the stage in Vienna last night (Tuesday), trying to present a united image.

Incumbent Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears, the party’s gubernatorial candidate, and others criticized Democratic candidates, but also took aim at Zohran Mahdani repeatedly, trying to associate Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger, with the mayoral nominee in New York City.

Earle-Sears: “You have seen that my hometown nominated socialists.” “… Make no mistake, our opponent’s ideas are socialist because they revolve around what the government will do and how it will take your money.

Earle-Sears urged Democrats “to use your own money to show kindness” and reiterated her opposition against so-called ‘sanctuary cities which limit cooperation with ICE. She also expressed her support for qualified immune police officers.

Earle-Sears questioned, “Are we really talking about government-owned grocery shops?,” citing Mamdani ‘s proposal for the opening of city-owned supermarkets to provide low-cost access to food. “And everything’s free… They’re eventually going to run out our money because it’s their money that they’re free with.”

Earle-Sears was not the only one to try to link Spanberger with Mamdani.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said, “We won’t allow Virginia to have a leader who reminds me so much of the Democratic mayoral candidate in New York.” Glenn Youngkin said. “And yet, we have an American Marine who is a fighter, who understands what America means because she knows that everything she appreciates today, and everything for which she gives thanks to God, all came from her country.”

Both men appeared on stage at the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, months after Youngkin tried to convince GOP lieutenant-governor nominee John Reid to step aside.

Reid jokingly said, “You may have noticed this but I didn’t get up on stage because Richmond establishments like me. “I did not get on this platform because some company bought me with a million dollar and put me here. I did not get on this stage to please you, the Virginia voters.

Reid criticized the laws that allow transgender girls and women to participate in sports for girls.

Reid stated that he was the one who stood up long before it was popular for girls and women, saying we should protect their sports. The biological truth is still important when making public policies, even though scientists found the biology used to determine sex to be complex and not binary.

The incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares who is running for re-election also attended the rally. This was the first appearance of the Republican statewide ticket this election campaign.

Protest against possible Medicaid cuts

A crowd gathered outside the rally to protest Republican candidates. They expressed frustration over the bill headed to the House of Representatives, which could result in significant Medicaid cuts.

The Republican [budget] Bill that Youngkin, Winsome Earle Sears and others support would be devastating for Virginia. It would kick 300,000 Virginians out of their health care, warned Jamie Lockhart. She is the executive director for Planned Parenthood Advocates for Virginia.

The group that advocates for reproductive rights, as well as the Service Employees International Union Virginia (SEIU), New Virginia Majority and Women’s March helped to organize the protest.

Joyce Rena Bumbray Graves, a nurse, said that her clients depended on Medicare and Medicaid subsidies for medical tests, surgeries, and transplants. She also said that she had family members who were dependent on Medicare. “Medicaid keeps a lot families together.” “They need to look at all the people to see how this will affect everyone.”

Last Thursday, June 26, federal workers from SEIU Virginia 512 gathered with Spanberger, Democratic candidates for lieutenant-governor and attorney-general, Ghazala Hahmi, and Jay Jones in Fairfax. Last week, the Democratic ticket made stops in Fairfax City as well as Tysons. This was part of their statewide tour to launch their joint campaign.

Rally participants weigh in

Some voters at the rally said that they supported Winsome-Earles because they believed taxes were too high.

Sally Segal, a local resident, said: “I love the sign that says “Axe the Tax.” “We’re going crazy with the property tax we have, the plastic bag taxes, and this trash tax. “It’s all one after another.”

Segal was especially frustrated by the fact that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the meals tax without a referendum, even though it was rejected twice in the 1990s.

Segal stated, “They have raised our property taxes again. I’ve heard from a trustworthy source that the property tax will really increase next year.”

Segal and other participants at the rally stated that they believe the budget bill being debated by Congress will eliminate fraud Medicaid. Segal and others in the Segal’s Row insisted that there would be no Medicaid cuts under the legislation.

Segal said, ” DOGE discovered billions in fraud on Medicaid. They saved a lot; billions with a b.” “They won’t affect children starving.”

Some of the attendees supported the Republican candidate, but they were not sure about Medicaid.

Muzammal Javed is a rising senior from West Potomac High School. She said, “My uncle died two or three weeks back.” “He had a battle with cancer for a long time. He was paying for all of his treatment before he got on Medicaid. His retirement savings had been wiped out. He was able to get on Medicaid, which helped him greatly. He wouldn’t be able to receive the treatment he required without Medicaid.”

Javed stated that his family’s political views have changed in the last few years. He said they used to be “traditionally liberal”, but in 2021 voted for Donald Trump and Youngkin.

Javed’s own feelings were more divided. He supported Trump during the recent election because of and his promise that he would end the wars between Ukraine and Gaza. But he wanted to hear from both sides.

Javed’s biggest hope is that the state legislature will provide more funding to secure schools.

Javed said, “It was actually a child younger than myself who got stabbed.” “We don‘t provide enough security.” We had only one school resource officer. We could deter more crimes if we had more armed guards at schools and in communities.