“I am a Christian first, and then a Republican. I don’t want to hear about your economic policies and you’re going to build the country if we have to kill babies along the way, ”she told an interviewer in 2019.

A former Marine, Sears had a brief stint in electoral politics 20 years ago as a one-term delegate to the General Assembly, representing parts of Hampton Roads. Her return to politics after a two-decade hiatus began when she served as national president of black Americans to re-elect President Trump.

Early Wednesday, Sears stood with her family in front of jubilant supporters at a victory party in Chantilly, saying, “What you’re looking at is the American Dream.”

Throughout the race, Sears also highlighted her background as a Jamaican immigrant, campaigning against illegal immigration and rejecting the idea that the nation is plagued by systemic racism.

“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m black and I’ve been black my whole life,” she said. “But that’s not what it is. What we’re going to do is, now we’re going to deal with Commonwealth affairs. We have things to do. “

Miyares will be the first Republican to hold the post of attorney general since Ken Cuccinelli’s victory in 2009.

A delegate from Virginia Beach, Miyares highlighted his past as a Cuban immigrant son throughout the campaign. He often criticized Herring for decisions by the state parole board to release inmates earlier without notifying victims, decisions which Herring said were totally beyond his jurisdiction.