Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R-VA) now has some competition to become the Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee, as former Del. Dave LaRock has also filed to run for governor this year.

LaRock, who portrays himself as an ally to President Donald Trump on X, served in the House of Delegates from 2014 through 2024 and came in second in a 2023 state Senate primary. He is the first Republican to challenge Earle-Sears for the nomination, something he does not shy away from on his campaign website.