Flywheel FOCUS: Race to Watch Virginia Lieutenant Governor’s Race: Sears vs. Ayala
By David Beightol
October 10, 2021
The race for Lieutenant Governor in Virginia is another one of Flywheel’s races to watch.
Current State Delegate Hala Ayala is running on the Democratic line and former State Delegate and Marine, Winsome Sears is the Republican nominee. Both candidates for Lieutenant Governor run on their own ticket but they have shown a partnership with their respective Gubernatorial candidates.Hala Ayala was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2018. She has over 20 years of experience as a cybersecurity specialist with the Department of Homeland Security. Hala has also been involved with the local PTA, Women’s Rights Campaigns and Terry McAuliffe’s Council for Women.Winsome Sears was first elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 2002 as the first black female Republican, first veteran and first naturalized citizen to serve in the House of Delegates. She also spent time in the US Marines as an electrician. Winsome also served as Vice President for the Virginia Board of Education and has held numerous appointments to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Census Bureau.Top issues of this race will be, COVID-19 recovery, school re-opening, women’s issues and the economy to name a few. A recent poll conducted by the Wason Center at Christopher Newport University between September 27th and October 6th shows Ayala ahead by just 4 points which falls within the survey’s 4.2% margin of error. An earlier poll conducted by the Wason Center released on August 26th showed Ayala leading Sears by 10 points with a margin of error of 3.6%.With only 3 weeks left until election day, and 19 days left of early voting, this is still a highly contested race. There are no debates scheduled between the two candidates, but they will be crisscrossing the Commonwealth to earn all possible votes.
Flywheel will provide more updates on this race and others in Virginia in the days that remain until November 2nd.
David Beightol
Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Flywheel Government Solutions
Flywheel Government Solutions offers multidisciplinary, strategic engagement on U.S. federal & state government affairs, public affairs, business intelligence, market analysis, and assistance with government market access across the United States. Flywheel's team is comprised of strategic business management consultants and government policy and procurement experts who have worked with clients of all sizes, from startup to enterprise, across all sectors.
Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Flywheel Government Solutions
Flywheel Government Solutions offers multidisciplinary, strategic engagement on U.S. federal & state government affairs, public affairs, business intelligence, market analysis, and assistance with government market access across the United States. Flywheel's team is comprised of strategic business management consultants and government policy and procurement experts who have worked with clients of all sizes, from startup to enterprise, across all sectors.
Juanita Duggan is the founder of CLARIFYD, providing clients with clarity and solutions for complex policy problems. Most recently, Juanita was President and CEO of the National Federation for Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy group. A native of Alabama, Juanita has served at the helm of multiple, high-profile trade associations and in the White House during both the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations. Juanita was the first woman to serve as President and CEO of NFIB, as well as the first woman to lead the American Apparel & Footwear Association, the American Forest & Paper Association, and the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. She held leading roles as a lobbyist at Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, Schreck, the National Food Processors Association, and for Philip Morris Companies, Inc.