Dave LaRock, a conservative former delegate from Loudoun County who lost a 2023 primary for state Senate, has filed paperwork to run for governor, challenging Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears for the GOP nomination.
LaRock, touting himself as a “Pro-Trump candidate for Governor of Virginia,” says his priorities include establishing a Virginia Department of Government Efficiency based on billionaire Elon Musk’s effort to cut the federal government.
LaRock
LaRock, 68, reached by telephone on Wednesday declined comment on his run. He is a resident of Berryville in Clarke County, according to the campaign paperwork he filed.
Most state GOP leaders have rallied around Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who now faces two potential challengers for the nomination for governor.
Earle-Sears has the endorsement of Gov. Glenn Youngkin, as well as U.S. Reps. Jen Kiggans, R-2nd, and John McGuire, R-5th. Republicans will pick their nominee in a June primary.
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I’m excited to introduce our newly redesigned “Dave LaRock for Governor” website! Our vision is sharp, our mission is clear, and we’re ready to fight for Virginia’s future.https://t.co/SxZDSr5wGs
— Dave LaRock For VA Governor (@DaveLaRockForVA) February 26, 2025
On his website, LaRock takes a swipe at Earle-Sears, who said in 2022 that Republicans should move on from Donald Trump after the party failed to make substantial gains in the midterm elections. Earle-Sears supported Trump during the 2024 presidential election, leading chants of “Donald J. Trump!” at an October rally in Chesterfield in which Trump called in and during a November rally Trump held in Salem.
During the November rally in Salem Earle-Sears said of Trump: “That’s a man I can support, because he cares about America. We are not voting for the lesser of two evils, no. We are voting for the lessening of evil.”
LaRock’s website says: “As Governor, he will protect taxpayers’ money from fraud and waste, uphold constitutional rights, defend life, and ensure safe communities and schools.
“While the GOP’s presumptive nominee offers platitudes and backtracks on conservative values, LaRock takes action — defending parental rights, backing law enforcement, and fighting for Virginia’s future. He’ll cut wasteful spending, slash regulations, and grow the economy.
“Virginia needs a governor who leads with action, not rhetoric. Dave LaRock is that leader — the conservative fighter who can defeat Abigail Spanberger.”
Spanberger, who left Congress after three terms to run for governor, is the presumptive Democratic nominee and faces no challengers in the June primary.
The Earle-Sears campaign said in a statement she is “a proven winner and has quickly built a sweeping coalition of supporters that position her to overwhelmingly win any prospective primary.
“Challengers can enter the race, but the outcome will be the same. Winsome Sears will be the next Governor of Virginia.”
Youngkin backs LG
Youngkin said in a statement Wednesday that he fully supports Earle-Sears to be Virginia’s next governor.
“She has been a steadfast partner when it comes to standing up for parents, backing the blue, making Virginia the Top State for Business and delivering historic tax relief to lower the cost of living,” Youngkin said.
“She is a United States Marine who knows how fight, a small business owner who knows what it means to sign the front of a paycheck, and a proven winner. I will stand with her with every step of the way as our party unites and she wins in November.”
On Wednesday afternoon Earle-Sears’ campaign announced the backing of more than 50 Republican state legislators, including House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah and Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover.
In a statement the Earle-Sears campaign issued, Gilbert said: “As we look to the future, we know that her leadership will continue to push Virginia forward, making it a place where every Virginian can thrive. I’m proud to endorse Winsome Sears for Governor.”
The challenge from LaRock “might actually work to the general election benefit of Earle-Sears to be nominated after a competitive process,” said Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.
“She needs to overcome the perception that some of her issue stands are too far right-wing to be viable as a general election candidate in a Purple or slightly lean-Blue state. Vanquishing LaRock could help her.”
Rozell said competition for a statewide nomination is always preferable for the eventual nominee because “it forces a front-runner to work for the nomination, which means justifying issue stands and actions while in office. That improves accountability and it might even make the eventual nominee a better general election candidate.”
He said LaRock “starts as a huge underdog given that he only has had a House of Delegates’ district constituency, whereas the lieutenant governor is an incumbent with a statewide electoral record. He just is not as well-known and the one time he tried to move up (to state Senate) he lost in the primary for GOP nomination. It’s going to be a tough challenge for him to undertake.”
Bob Holsworth, a veteran Virginia political analyst and a former dean at Virginia Commonwealth University, said LaRock’s campaign is a sign that Earle-Sears has not consolidated the MAGA base in Virginia.
“It’s a problem for the Republican Party because this is a relatively favorable environment for the Virginia Democrats this year,” Holsworth said.
“Trump is relatively unpopular in Virginia — not nationally, but in Virginia, he lost Virginia by six (points). Republicans have to really mobilize their folks and I think a nasty primary fight is not something that’s going to be all that helpful for them on that front here.”
Trump lost Virginia in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
Democrats have criticized LaRock for attending Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington that preceded the riot at the U.S. Capitol.
LaRock was one of three delegates who signed a letter to Vice President Mike Pence seeking the nullification of Virginia’s Electoral College votes after Biden won the state by 10 percentage points in 2020.
On the first day of the 2021 legislative session, then-House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, removed LaRock from the House transportation committee as punishment.
LaRock represented a Loudoun County district in the House of Delegates from 2014 to 2024. After redistricting moved him into a district more favorable to Democrats, he moved to Clarke County and sought a state Senate seat.
In 2023 LaRock finished second in an eight-way GOP primary for state Senate in District 1, based in Frederick, Shenandoah and Warren counties. Timmy French won the GOP primary and the Senate seat.
RVA 100: 100 people, places, things that you should know about Richmond
The RVA 100 are the people, places, things that make Richmond so special. The Times-Dispatch will be highlighting 100 quintessential Richmond icons starting Aug. 1 and running throughout the year.
Submit your ideas for what and who we should feature at go.richmond.com/rva100yourturn.
Chimborazo Park is laden with city history and lore while also letting park-goers experience all of Richmond.
As a child, when the Legendary Santa called you by name, that memory was priceless.
Starting today, we're launching our RVA 100 series, which highlights the people, places and objects that define the Richmond region. For 100 days, we’ll showcase a different quintessential Richmond icon. First up: Agecroft Hall.
This story is part of RVA100, our series that highlights the people, places and objects that define the Richmond region. We’re exploring hidden histories and colorful backstories.
This story is part of RVA100, our series that highlights the people, places and objects that define the Richmond region. We’re exploring hidden histories and colorful backstories.
This story is part of RVA100, our series that highlights the people, places and objects that define the Richmond region. We’re exploring hidden histories and colorful backstories.
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Bill "Bojangles" Robinson is dancing in the aluminum statue that stands in Jackson Ward, the majority Black neighborhood where he grew up in racially segregated Richmond. But Robinson, a trailblazer as a Black entertainer in early 20th-Century America, didn't forget his home town or the challenges facing Black students there.
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This story is part of RVA100, our series that highlights the people, places and objects that define the Richmond region. We’re exploring hidden histories and colorful backstories.
This story is part of RVA100, our series that highlights the people, places and objects that define the Richmond region. We’re exploring hidden histories and colorful backstories.
This story is part of RVA100, our series that highlights the people, places and objects that define the Richmond region. We’re exploring hidden histories and colorful backstories.
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State Politics Reporter
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Politics Editor
