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Republican Winsome Earle-Sears shakes up campaign staff in Virginia governor’s race

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Republican Winsome Earle-Sears shakes up campaign staff in Virginia governor’s race


Virginia Republican Winsome Earle-Sears’ gubernatorial campaign said Thursday that it demoted one key staffer and parted ways with another less than four months out from the general election, as the candidate lags in the polls and fundraising.

Will Archer, a pastor with no prior major political experience, was removed from his post as Earle-Sears’ campaign manager, Mark Harris, a general consultant for the campaign, said on a call with reporters.

Archer will remain on the campaign in a role that focuses on voter turnout in the Northern Virginia area, said Harris, who also indicated there was not a plan to announce a new campaign manager imminently.

“Will, who was the campaign manager, is transitioning out,” Harris said. Asked when a new campaign manager would be announced, Harris replied, “When we decide to let you guys know.”

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Harris also told reporters that Richard Wagner, Earle-Sears’ political director, has left the campaign.

“Richard has moved on to another race,” Harris said.

The Washington Post first reported news of Archer’s new role in the campaign.

The staff shakeup comes as Earle-Sears, the state’s lieutenant governor, has struggled to gain traction against Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former congresswoman, in the race to succeed GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

A poll released Wednesday by Virginia Commonwealth University found Spanberger leading Earle-Sears 49% to 37% among registered voters. Those results were outside of the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 4.16 percentage points.

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And new fundraising reports released this week showed Spanberger with an advantage over Earle-Sears. Spanberger raised $4.3 million during the most recent reporting period, June 6 to June 30, and had $15.2 million in cash on hand. By comparison, Earle-Sears raised $2.4 million and had $4.5 million in cash on hand.

Republicans have criticized Earle-Sears’ campaign, saying that it lacks discipline and consistency. In interviews last month, Republican operatives in Virginia and elsewhere grumbled that the campaign has lacked a central message. But they also cautioned that it remained far too early to write off Earle-Sears — a message that was reiterated by the campaign itself on Thursday.

“We are at the very beginning of this fight,” said Harris, who noted that Youngkin won four years ago after starting the race behind.

“Our goal is to win and beat Abigail Spanberger,” he said. “I know that everyone is treating this race much like a fait accompli, and I think much like that was wrong in 2021, once again it will be wrong in 2025.”

Harris acknowledged that they “definitely are the underdog” but said that “there is a clear path to victory” for them to win.

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“We need high turnout. We have to work hard to get high turnout,” he said.



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Former Virginia Gov Glenn Youngkin hints at political future, says he’s ‘chomping at the bit’ after exit

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Former Virginia Gov Glenn Youngkin hints at political future, says he’s ‘chomping at the bit’ after exit


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Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signaled his political career may not be over, telling Sean Hannity he still has “more to give” just under three months after leaving office.

“I have more to give. I just do. The one year of campaigning and the four years of running, so five years, went by in five seconds. It was amazing,” Youngkin said on the “Hang Out with Sean Hannity” podcast.

In the full episode, debuting Tuesday, Youngkin sat down with the Fox News host to discuss his time in office, as well as what things have been like since his term expired in January.

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NEW POLL REVEALS SPANBERGER’S POPULARITY IS PLUMMETING AMID BACKLASH OVER GERRYMANDERING

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin addresses the crowd during an early voting rally on Sept. 21, 2023, in Petersburg, Va. (Steve Helber/AP)

Every morning [when I was governor], I woke up literally bounding out of bed, ready to roll, and that was the most purposeful I’ve ever felt in my whole life.

Youngkin oversaw a range of conservative measures passed in the state, including a push to ensure age-appropriate curriculum in public schools.

SPANBERGER SIGNALS LEFT BENT AFTER CENTRIST CAMPAIGN; GOP LEADER WARNS OF ‘FAIRFAXING THE REST OF VA’

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Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger responds to President Donald Trump’s unseen State of the Union address. (Steve Helber/Reuters)

He also pushed for tax cuts, including efforts to reduce the state’s grocery tax, rolled back COVID-19 restrictions early in his tenure and emphasized tougher public safety policies.

His time in office concluded earlier this year, when Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration succeeded his.

I’ve been out of office for six weeks. I took [my wife] Suzanne on vacation, which she so deserved. She’s been amazing. I think she’s of the best first ladies in America,” he said.

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“But six weeks has felt like six years… You’re chomping at the bit.”

While Youngkin stopped short of outlining specific plans for the future, his comments suggest he is keeping the door open to a return to public office.

Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.



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Denver police arrest man suspected in fatal shooting on E. Virginia Avenue

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Denver police arrest man suspected in fatal shooting on E. Virginia Avenue


Denver police have arrested the man they believe was responsible for a fatal shooting on E. Virginia Avenue on Thursday afternoon.

According to an arrest affidavit, the Denver Dispatch Center received a 911 call around 12:35 p.m. to report a shooting in the 10100 block of E. Virginia Ave. The caller told dispatch workers that a white SUV was fleeing the scene.

Responding officers found a man who was critically wounded. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Investigators reportedly discovered a handgun, the victim’s cellphone and money in the area where the shooting happened. They also located surveillance footage in the area, which appeared to show the victim exiting a white Chevrolet Tahoe as gunshots could be heard. He walked to the east, looking for help, before collapsing on the ground.

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The affidavit says a conversation was discovered on the victim’s Instagram account in which he was speaking with another person who was selling a firearm.

Aurora police assisted investigators using the Flock License Plate Reader system, identifying the Tahoe at several locations. Police said the vehicle had unique characteristics on the passenger rear wheel. The affidavit says that, before the shooting, the vehicle had a rear license plate, but after the shooting, it was missing.

Daniel Villegas

Denver Police Department

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Investigators found the vehicle, executed a search warrant and found a fired cartridge case in the back seat. A person connected to the case reportedly told officers that he drove his friend, later identified as Daniel Puga Villegas, to meet a person to collect money from him. However, he says an argument took place, and Villegas shot the victim, then ripped off his temporary rear license plate and, while still holding the gun, told him to drive.

Villegas was arrested on Sunday with assistance from the APD and is facing charges of first-degree murder.



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Southwest, Central Virginia Weather | 7:15 a.m. – April 6, 2026

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Southwest, Central Virginia Weather | 7:15 a.m. – April 6, 2026


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