CHESTERFIELD, Va. (AP) — With President Donald Trump noticeably absent from Virginia's race for governor, Republican Winsome Earle-Sears turned to a prominent Trump ally to help energize supporters Friday night.

And Democrats may have been more excited than Republicans to welcome the special guest.

Vivek Ramaswamy, the former Republican presidential contender and current candidate for Ohio governor, faced a crowd of roughly 2,000 inside a cavernous barn in suburban Richmond as Earle-Sears looked on. He focused on immigration, free speech and turning swing-state Virginia “redder” than ever before.

“If you want to grow economy in this state, vote Sears,” he charged. “If you want Virginia to pave America’s path back to greatness, vote Sears!”

Ramaswamy barely mentioned Trump, however, and

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