Breaking barriers with courage, service, and cultural pride.
“When I challenge expectations, I create new possibilities for everyone watching.”
IMPACT & INSPIRATION
Winsome Earle-Sears’ journey—from Jamaican immigrant to U.S. Marine and Virginia’s lieutenant governor—shows the power of service, entrepreneurship, and grit. Her rise in conservative politics reframes representation, proving immigrant voices shape statewide agendas. As a business owner and community advocate, she champions opportunity and small-business growth. Above all, she does this while breaking gender and racial barriers in Virginia politics. Her presence challenges norms and offers AfroNouveau communities a model of resilient leadership across partisan lines and civic empowerment today.
TRAILBLAZER
Winsome Earle-Sears broke historic barriers when she won the lieutenant governor’s race on November 2, 2021. Thereby becoming the first woman of color elected to statewide office in Virginia. She was inaugurated on January 15, 2022, joining a GOP ticket that commentators noted for its uncommon diversity. Her victory ended a nearly twenty-year absence from elected office and signaled new pathways for Black Republicans and women in the Commonwealth. The 2021 win, part of a sweep with Glenn Youngkin and Jason Miyares, shifted public expectations about candidate profiles in statewide contests. For AfroNouveau audiences it marked more than symbolism. It opened a visible route for immigrant and veteran leaders to contest high office. That precedent now serves as a touchstone for politicians from nontraditional backgrounds aiming for statewide impact.
VETERAN
She served in the United States Marine Corps from 1983 to 1986, training as an electrician and reaching the rank of corporal. That service remains a core part of her public identity and is frequently referenced on the campaign trail as a foundation for disciplined leadership. In 2004 she received a presidential appointment to an advisory committee on women veterans, reflecting an ongoing focus on veterans’ affairs. According to her official biography on Britannica, she made history as Virginia’s first female lieutenant governor.As lieutenant governor she participates in veterans-focused councils. Also, she has used that platform to promote workforce and education pathways for former service members. Her veteran status also broadens her appeal to military communities across Virginia. Moreover, her status informs proposals on job training and public safety. For AfroNouveau readers her story underscores how military service can translate into civic authority and political credibility.
“Explore our Black Excellence in Leadership collection for more stories like Winsome Earle-Sears.”
ENTREPRENEUR
After her early run for Congress in 2004, Earle-Sears built a career as a small-business owner operating plumbing, electrical and home-appliance services. She also directed community programs, including leading a women’s homeless shelter and prison ministry, tying entrepreneurship to civic care. Those roles inform her emphasis on small-business growth and local job creation in speeches and policy pitches. She presents entrepreneurship as a practical pathway for immigrants and working families to build stability and wealth. Her track record of hands-on management is part of her argument that elected leaders should understand economic drivers at the neighborhood level. This blend of commerce and service positions her as an AfroNouveau model for private-sector uplift tied to public purpose.
POLICY VOICE
Winsome Earle-Sears first served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 to 2004 after unseating a long-time incumbent, an early sign of her political tenacity. She later served as vice president of the Virginia State Board of Education (2014–2015), where she advocated for parental input and local control in schools. Her return to statewide politics culminated in the 2021 lieutenant governor’s race and a governing role where she emphasizes education, jobs and fiscal restraint. On September 5, 2024 she launched a bid for governor framed around opportunity and public service. Thus, positioning herself as a pragmatic conservative. Her rhetoric combines cultural appeals and policy proposals meant to broaden GOP reach among working-class and AfroNouveau voters. That public policy voice has attracted national attention. It has also made her both a rallying figure for allies and a frequent subject of scrutiny by opponents.
In a recent Forbes article on influential political leaders, she was recognized for her conservative advocacy.”
HERITAGE AMBASSADOR
Born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1964 and immigrating to the United States at age six, Winsome Earle-Sears foregrounds her diasporic roots in public storytelling. She grew up in New York before building a life and career in Virginia, a trajectory she uses to illustrate immigrant opportunity. As a naturalized citizen she is also noted as the first naturalized woman elected to statewide office. A fact highlighted in official biographies. Her Jamaican heritage and faith-centered narrative shape outreach to Caribbean and broader diaspora communities while bridging cultural identity and conservative politics. She often frames policy through family, faith and work ethic. A messaging that resonates with many AfroNouveau audiences seeking culturally grounded leadership. Together, her origins and public posture show how diasporic identity can be mobilized for electoral success and community uplift.
Credentials & Achievements
- First Black woman elected to a statewide office in Virginia (Lieutenant Governor).
- U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
- Former business owner and community advocate.
- Jamaican-born immigrant, champion of opportunity and entrepreneurship.
“Learn more about other inspiring women in politics in our AfroNouveau 100 series on chimamanda-ngozi.”
Dear AfroNouveau,
Winsome Earle-Sears combines immigrant grit, military service, entrepreneurial experience and a high-profile policy voice. She combines these into an AfroNouveau blueprint for ambitious leaders seeking to expand representation and opportunity.
(Q&A Section)
Question 1: Who is Winsome Earle-Sears?
Answer: Winsome Earle-Sears is a Jamaican-American politician, businesswoman, and veteran who made history as the first woman and first woman of color to serve as the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. She is known for her conservative leadership and advocacy for education, entrepreneurship, and veterans’ rights.
Question 2: What is Winsome Earle-Sears known for?
Answer: Winsome Earle-Sears is best known for breaking barriers in U.S. politics. As a Republican leader, she has focused on community empowerment, education reform, and small business growth, often highlighting her immigrant journey as an inspiration to others.
Question 3: What is Winsome Earle-Sears’s political background?
Answer: She previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 to 2004 and was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2021. Her political career has been defined by her focus on faith, family, and freedom.
