Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican candidate for governor, said Thursday that her campaign bus caught fire. “While en-route to an event, our campaign bus caught fire. Everyone is safe,” Earle-Sears said. “Thank you to the first responders who got to the scene quickly — we are so grateful for you,” she added. While en-route to an event, our campaign bus caught fire. Everyone is safe. Thank you to the first responders who got to the scene quickly — we are so grateful for you. — Winsome Earle-Sears (@winwithwinsome) October 30, 2025 Rocktown Now shared: Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle Sears was en route to a campaign rally at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds when her bus caught fire on Route 33 near the Greene and Rockingham County lines. Firefighters arrived on scene and worked quickly to bring the fire under control but not before the bus suffered heavy damage. At this time, no injuries have been reported. “I’m relieved to hear @winwithwinsome and her team are safe after her campaign bus caught on fire this afternoon. I’m grateful to our first responders for their quick action — and I’m thinking of the Lt. Governor and her team after this scary incident,” former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, her Democratic opponent, said. I’m relieved to hear @winwithwinsome and her team are safe after her campaign bus caught on fire this afternoon. I’m grateful to our first responders for their quick action — and I’m thinking of the Lt. Governor and her team after this scary incident. — Abigail Spanberger (@SpanbergerForVA) October 30, 2025 The Hill noted: Spanberger and Earle-Sears have been locked in a contentious battle for the governor’s mansion, with the Democrat leading her opponent in recent polls. The Democrat’s campaign was rocked recently by revelations that the Democratic attorney general candidate, Jay Jones, had sent text messages back in 2022 suggesting he wanted to shoot Virginia’s House Speaker at the time, a Republican. Earle-Sears aggressively pressed Spanberger about the scandal at a debate earlier this month, repeatedly calling on the Democrat to urge Jones to drop out. Spanberger has not done so. Virginia voters have until Tuesday to head to the polls, joining voters in New Jersey, New York and other states.