Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will endorse Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and rally with her on Sept. 19 in Chesterfield County, a pivotal suburb in the commonwealth's governor's race, campaign officials said.
Ramaswamy told Fox News Digital that Earle-Sears will "lead Virginia to new heights," and said he wants a coalition of states to "join us in reviving a new American Dream." Earle-Sears said she was "honored" by his support and that the two share "a deep belief in the promise of America, that with hard work, faith, and freedom, every family can thrive."
The rally is set for a Chesterfield location in the Richmond suburbs that is the home district of state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2025. Chesterfield has been viewed as a bellwether in statewide contests, trending Democratic since the 2000s but competitive in recent cycles. The county was narrowly won by Hillary Clinton in 2016, flipped to President Joe Biden in 2020, returned to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2021, and supported Democrats again in 2024, according to local vote tallies.
Earle-Sears, the Republican nominee to succeed Gov. Youngkin, is in a close general election contest with former Rep. Abigail Spanberger. The campaign has highlighted Earle-Sears's personal story — she is Black and an immigrant from Jamaica — as a way to broaden the Republican appeal. Earle-Sears has also emphasized continuity with Youngkin's economic agenda and has criticized Spanberger's policy proposals on immigration enforcement agreements.
Youngkin has already endorsed Earle-Sears, and the addition of Ramaswamy is intended to provide a national conservative boost ahead of November. Campaign officials said the appearance aims to energize turnout in a swing area that can be decisive in statewide races.
Ramaswamy, who has emerged as a national figure in Republican politics, is himself running for governor in Ohio. He recently won the endorsement of the Ohio Republican Party, a development that coincided with the withdrawal of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost from the GOP primary. Other potential Republican contenders in Ohio have been reported to be considering entries into that race.
The Sept. 19 event will test both candidates' ability to marshal outside support in a competitive environment. Chesterfield's recent voting pattern and demographic changes have made it a focus of attention for campaigns seeking to demonstrate momentum in suburban and exurban precincts.
Campaigns for Earle-Sears and Ramaswamy confirmed the rally; representatives for Spanberger did not immediately comment on the appearance. The event is one of several planned appearances by national figures on behalf of state-level candidates as the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election approaches.