Politics in the Commonwealth has always been a contact sport, but something shifted recently. If you’ve been scrolling through social media or catching the evening news in Richmond lately, you’ve probably seen the clip. Winsome Earle-Sears I am speaking—it's a phrase that has become a lightning rod, a meme, and a campaign rallying cry all rolled into one. It isn't just about a heated moment in a debate or a presiding officer asserting her authority. It’s about the collision of a glass-shattering Republican career and the high-stakes 2025 gubernatorial race that just wrapped up.
Honestly, the energy around this is wild. For some, it’s a powerful display of a Black woman refusing to be silenced in rooms that historically didn’t want her there. For others, it’s a jarring echo of Kamala Harris’s famous 2020 debate line, used by a woman whose politics couldn't be more different. But why did it stick? Why are we still talking about it now, as the 2026 General Assembly session kicks off and the guard changes in Virginia?
The Debate Stage Explosion
The most famous instance of the Winsome Earle-Sears "I am speaking" moment went down during the 2024–2025 campaign cycle. Picture this: a darkened stage, the air thick with the kind of tension you only get when two political heavyweights—Earle-Sears and Democrat Abigail Spanberger—are fighting for the future of the state.
During one of their televised matchups, things got messy. Spanberger was pressing Earle-Sears on her past comments regarding reproductive rights and her previous support for restrictive abortion bans. As Spanberger tried to finish a point about the Texas Heartbeat Act, Earle-Sears cut in. The cross-talk started. The moderator was losing control. That’s when Earle-Sears dropped it.
"I am speaking."
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She didn't just say it; she commanded it. She pointedly ignored the moderator’s requests to let the clock run out, continuing to push her message about being "pro-life" while insisting that her opponent was misrepresenting her record. It was a calculated move. It showed a candidate who wasn't just there to answer questions, but to dominate the space. Critics called it "Trumpian" and accused her of flailing. Her supporters? They loved every second of it. They saw a Marine who wasn't going to let a "career politician" steamroll her.
More Than Just a Slogan
But let’s get real—the "I am speaking" vibe started long before that specific debate. As Lieutenant Governor and the presiding officer of the Virginia Senate, Earle-Sears has been "speaking" for years in ways that ruffle feathers.
Remember the Danica Roem incident in February 2024? That was a massive turning point. Earle-Sears misgendered Roem, the state’s first transgender senator, calling her "sir" during a floor discussion. The room went cold. Roem walked out. When Earle-Sears eventually apologized, it was a "sorry if you were offended" kind of moment. She defended herself by saying she wasn’t there to upset anyone but was there to do her job. To her base, she was standing her ground against "woke" culture. To her detractors, she was using her platform to demean a colleague.
Why the Phrase Sticks to Her
The reason the phrase Winsome Earle-Sears I am speaking carries so much weight is because of her unique position. She is the first woman of color to hold statewide office in Virginia. She’s a Jamaican immigrant, a veteran, and a conservative who often says things that make both sides of the aisle uncomfortable.
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- On Abortion: She has called it "genocide" in the past, though she tempered her stance to a 15-week ban during the heat of the campaign.
- On Education: She’s a fierce advocate for school choice, basically arguing that the zip code you're born in shouldn't dictate your future.
- On Identity: She famously said, "Slaves did not die in the fields so that we could call ourselves victims now."
When she says "I am speaking," she isn't just asking for her turn on the mic. She is asserting that her brand of conservatism—one that is unapologetically Black but fiercely Republican—deserves a seat at the head of the table.
The 2026 Reality
It’s now January 2026. The 2025 election is over. Abigail Spanberger is the Governor-elect, and Winsome Earle-Sears is preparing to hand over the gavel of the Senate to Ghazala Hashmi. Just yesterday, on the opening day of the 2026 General Assembly, the two were seen conferring during a break. It was a quiet, professional moment—a far cry from the "I am speaking" fireworks of the campaign trail.
But don't think for a second she's going away. Even in the final days of the Youngkin administration, Earle-Sears has been vocal about Trump’s federal policies, including potential mass firings of federal workers in Northern Virginia. While she’s supported Trump’s broader agenda, she’s had to navigate the reality that many of those workers are her constituents.
The "I am speaking" era of Winsome Earle-Sears has left a permanent mark on how we talk about power in Richmond. She proved that a candidate can be combative, controversial, and still command a massive, loyal following.
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What This Means for You
Whether you find her inspiring or infuriating, there are some pretty clear takeaways from the Earle-Sears playbook.
First, the medium is the message. In a world of 15-second TikTok clips, a three-word phrase like "I am speaking" is more valuable than a 10-point policy paper. It signals strength and captures attention instantly.
Second, identity is complicated. Earle-Sears broke the mold of what a "typical" Republican looks like, and she used that to her advantage to talk about issues like DEI and school choice from a perspective that her opponents struggled to counter.
Third, the tension isn't over. As the Virginia House of Delegates pushes through constitutional amendments on abortion and voting rights this week, the battle lines Earle-Sears helped draw are still there. She might be leaving the Lieutenant Governor's office, but her voice—and the way she uses it—has changed the frequency of Virginia politics for the foreseeable future.
If you're watching the Virginia legislature this session, keep an eye on how the new leadership handles the mic. The "I am speaking" moment wasn't just a blip; it was a shift in how political battles are fought in the Commonwealth.
Actionable Insights for Following Virginia Politics
- Watch the Constitutional Amendments: Follow the progress of the four key amendments (abortion, gay marriage, voting rights, and redistricting) as they move to the Senate this week.
- Follow the Transition: Pay attention to how Governor-elect Spanberger interacts with the Republican minority. The "I am speaking" energy hasn't disappeared; it’s just moved to the back benches.
- Monitor the Federal Impact: With the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to the federal workforce, see if Virginia Republicans continue to align with Earle-Sears’ supportive stance or if they pivot to protect local jobs.