Many people outside of Virginia have probably not heard about Winsome Sears before — the new Lt. Governor-elect in Virginia. My colleague Jennifer Oliver O’Connell wrote about her win and that of Attorney General-elect Jason Miyares last night.

But after the drubbing she and the other Republicans gave their opponents last night and the speech she delivered in response, it’s probably safe to say that many more have heard of her now. Indeed, folks are already pointing at the way she and Youngkin conducted their campaigns as models to win against divisive Democrats. They showed what a failure the Democratic approach of being anti-parent, anti-Trump, and full-on racist was.

In addition to having a great first name for a winning politician, Sears also made history in the state becoming the first woman and woman of color to become lieutenant governor. Sears is a Marine veteran and came to this country as a child from Jamaica. She’s been the director of a Salvation Army homeless shelter prior to entering politics plus she also owns an appliance and plumbing repair store. She previously served as vice president of the Virginia Board of Education and served a single term in Virginia’s House of Delegates from 2002 to 2004.

Meet Winsome Sears, Virginia’s new Lieutenant Governor.

She is a black woman who immigrated from Jamaica, served in the Marines, has a Masters degree, ran a women’s homeless shelter, raised 3 kids— and now she has made history. pic.twitter.com/AFPdR0jSG0

— Benny (@bennyjohnson) November 3, 2021

The speech she gave last night was exciting and straight fire, a rebuke of the Democratic racist narrative.

New Lt. Governor of Virginia Winsome Sears on her historic victory: "There are some who want to divide us and we must not let that happen." pic.twitter.com/HPDJAx8dtw

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) November 3, 2021

You are looking at the American dream, Sears said of herself. Her father came to the country with $1.75 and is now comfortably retired. “When I joined the Marine Corps, I was still a Jamaican. But this country had done so much for me, I was willing, willing, to die for this country,” Sears said. She then led a “USA” chant.

“Victory, indeed…There are some who want to divide us and we must not let that happen. They would like us to believe we are back in 1963 when my father came,” she said. “Here I am, living proof. In case you haven’t noticed, I am black, and I have been black all my life. But that’s not what this is about.” She said they are now going to be about the business of the commonwealth. She said they were going to make sure Virginians kept more money in their pockets and “our children are going to get a good education!” “I didn’t want to run to make history,” Sears said. “I just wanted to leave it better than I found it…Hold on Virginia!…The cavalry has arrived!…Thank you, Jesus! How sweet it is!”

That was why they won — because people looked at Sears and Youngkin and saw the real people they were, saw that they had ideas. Voters saw they loved America and were not demonizing it or demonizing voters. Voters saw they wanted to do the job, not just have the power like Terry McAuliffe. What a concept — concentrating on the issues that voters care about. But Democrats still haven’t figured that out yet.

People may not have heard about Winsome Sears before but she definitely has put herself on the map now and for the future.