Republican Winsome Sears elected Virginia's first black female lieutenant governor

Sears defeated Hala Ayala, who was elected to the House of Delegates in the 2017 election.
Winsome Sears
By Nicholas Ballasy

Republican Winsome Sears, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, was elected Virginia's first black female lieutenant governor on Tuesday evening.

Sears, a Jamaican immigrant, served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 to 2004.

The Virginia lieutenant governor is the second-ranking official in the state government and head of the state Senate.

Hala Ayala, her opponent, was elected to the House of Delegates in 2017. She is currently the chief deputy whip in the House of Delegates.