Sean Steinway, a candidate for Virginia’s House of Delegates, addressed a controversial sign displayed during an event featuring Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears. The incident underscores the need for leadership unafraid to stand for what is right, according to Steinway. His statement was made on the social media platform X.
“If this isn’t racism I don’t know what is,” said Steinway, Candidate for Delegate. “It’s time Fredricksburg has a leader who’s not afraid to stand for what’s right and put politics aside. I will be a voice for all constituents of the 65th & advocate for real leadership. Delegate Joshua Cole, what’s your response to this racism?”
At an Arlington County School Board meeting on August 22, 2025, Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears encountered a racist protest sign referencing Jim Crow laws, which drew immediate bipartisan condemnation. Sears denounced the sign and spoke to supporters outside the meeting where protests were already occurring over school bathroom policies. The incident and reactions from both Republican and Democratic leaders were documented by 7News/WJLA.
Virginia does not specifically track racist protest signs; however, hate crime data provide context for such incidents at demonstrations. In 2023, the Virginia State Police recorded 325 hate crimes statewide, with 94.2% classified as assault, intimidation, or vandalism—the same categories often present in public protests. These figures are from the official “Crime in Virginia – 2023” report published by the Virginia General Assembly.
Virginia’s 65th House District includes Fredericksburg and parts of Stafford and Spotsylvania counties and has shown competitive voting trends in recent elections. In 2023, Democrat Joshua Cole won the seat with 52.8% of the vote compared to Republican Lee Peters’ 46.9%, with additional write-ins recorded. These official results were published by the Virginia Department of Elections.
Steinway is running as a Republican candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates in District 65 on a platform emphasizing public safety, constitutional rights, and economic affordability. His biography highlights his service as a U.S. Marine veteran, his law enforcement background, and his experience as a small-business owner, as presented on his official campaign website.
