A protest against Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears at a school board meeting drew attention after a woman displayed a sign invoking segregation to criticize Republican policies on transgender bathroom use in schools. The sign was widely condemned by Virginia leaders, who described it as repulsive and racist. Earle-Sears, a Black Republican and gubernatorial candidate, criticized her opponent for delaying condemnation of the protest sign. The controversy intensified as a Democratic official in Virginia blamed Earle-Sears for the racist sign held by a liberal protester at her event. Separately, Earle-Sears publicly opposed a plan by Representative Abigail Spanberger to reverse Virginia’s agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), emphasizing the issue's clarity. Meanwhile, Virginia Senate Democrats prepared to vote down another round of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s state college Board of Visitors appointees, citing concerns about their qualifications and intentions. Youngkin criticized the Senate Democrats for what he called blatant partisanship that harms Virginia’s universities and insisted that both legislative chambers must approve his appointments.