President Donald Trump called in to an election eve tele-rally in support of the Virginia Republican statewide ticket, but notably stopped short of endorsing the GOP gubernatorial nominee, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.
“Get out and vote tomorrow for Jason Miyares … and the Republicans up and down the ballot; we have Republicans up and down,” Trump said.
The president praised Attorney General Jason Miyares, calling him “a fantastic man,” and saying “he has my complete and total endorsement,” while avoiding a similar statement about Earle-Sears.
Trump blasted the state’s Democratic nominees, saying, “The entire Democrat ticket in Virginia is totally unfit to hold office. Frankly. I mean, they are the worst.”
Despite reiterating that there were “great Republican candidates, up and down the line,” Trump did not formally endorse Earle-Sears.
In early October, Trump endorsed Miyares for reelection in a social media post that referenced Earle-Sears’ Democratic opponent, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, but did not extend his backing to Earle-Sears.
Trump visited Virginia recently to mark the US Navy’s 250th anniversary at Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval base. During that event, he again notably avoided mentioning Earle-Sears, a retired Marine.
Trump and Earle-Sears have a complicated relationship. Earle-Sears served in 2020 as national chairwoman of Black Americans to Reelect Trump and campaigned on his behalf throughout the country. But in a 2022 interview, she said Trump shouldn’t run again.
New Jersey race: Shortly after the Virginia phone rally, the president joined a separate tele-rally, urging New Jersey voters to vote for GOP gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli.
In both tele-rallies, the president returned to a familiar talking point, railing against high energy costs — a top issue on the campaign trail.
