Virginia GOP Nominee Accuses Governor of Extortion
Virginia’s Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, John Reid, is leveling serious accusations against Governor Glenn Youngkin’s political team, alleging extortion attempts aimed at forcing him to withdraw from the race. Reid, the first openly gay candidate on a Republican statewide ticket, shared his claims in two videos posted online.
Reid’s nomination came unexpectedly just a week ago when his only opponent, Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity, withdrew due to health issues. In his videos, Reid recounted threats from religious activists involving alleged explicit photos linked to him, which he insists are fabricated. Following these threats, Reid claims he received a call from Youngkin urging him to step down, which he adamantly refused.
“They said if I dropped out, they would purchase the opposition research, and the threats would disappear. This is extortion and it is illegal in Virginia,” he stated defiantly in his video address, asserting he will not exit the race.
Reid’s candidacy has drawn considerable support from fellow Republicans, despite the surrounding turmoil. Matthew Hurtt, chair of the Arlington County Republican Committee, reported that over two-thirds of his members oppose Reid dropping out. Hurtt criticized Youngkin’s team, asserting that their actions have compounded challenges for the Republican Party ahead of the November elections.
Political analysts note that this situation presents a significant hurdle for Republicans, with Youngkin now facing backlash for allegedly undermining a gay candidate. Calls for support from fellow GOP figures, including gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears and Attorney General Jason Miyares, have gone unaddressed, further complicating party dynamics.
A planned unity rally featuring Youngkin and statewide candidates was surprisingly canceled, while supporters rallied for Reid in Sterling.
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