Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is facing backlash from Republicans in his state over his call for lieutenant gubernatorial candidate John Reid to end his campaign.
On Friday, Youngkin’s team confirmed the governor called Reid to ask him to step down as the nominee following a report that Republican researchers came across sexually explicit photos on Tumblr posted by the same username Reid uses on other accounts. Reid has adamantly denied the allegations and went as far on Monday as to accuse Youngkin’s team of extortion. Reid, who is openly gay, has also said the reason he is being targeted is because of his sexuality.
Other Virginia Republicans have flocked to Reid’s defense, calling Youngkin’s move an “unforced error.” The growing controversy is raising questions about Republicans’ path forward ahead of November’s election and Youngkin’s political future.
The Hill reports:
“The governor had not made it an issue, I’m not sure that any of us except for politicos would have heard about this story,” said Phil Kazmierczak, a Republican who was appointed by Youngkin to the state’s LGBTQ advisory board and who resigned over the controversy last week.
A number of Republicans have laid blame on Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia PAC and his team for what they say was bad guidance.
“At the end of the day, what he cares about is winning,” one national Republican strategist said. “But the senior leadership around him needs to change, because this was a complete unforced error.”
