VA-GOV: Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate took money from a Nazi re-enactor from Ohio
Virginia Lt. Gov. and 2025 gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears (R) received campaign donations from a known Nazi sympathizer in Ohio, despite criticizing a fellow politician for doing the same.
According to Virginia Public Access Project, Earle-Sears has received nine $100 monthly payments to her Political Action Committee Winsome PAC from Richard Iott between August 2024 and May 2025. Iott is a longtime resident of Ohio who ran for Congress against Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D) in the state’s 9th Congressional District in 2010.
During his congressional run, The Atlantic revealed that Iott was an active member of the Wiking group, which devoted itself to re-enacting battles conducted by the 5th Panzer Division of the Nazi German army during World War II. According to the Toledo Free Press, Iott participated in several Nazi re-enactments between 2002-08 while donning a Waffen-SS uniform. In a statement to the magazine at the time, Iott denied subscribing to the ideals of the Nazi Party and claimed to only have a historical interest in the German army.
Iott also downplayed how his past might affect Jewish voters.
https://heartlandsignal.com/2025/07/09/virginia-gop-gubernatorial-candidate-took-money-from-a-nazi-re-enactor-from-ohio/