Virginia GOP Turmoil Escalates Over Lieutenant Governor Race

The Virginia Republican Party is embroiled in a public feud after Governor Glenn Youngkin urged lieutenant governor nominee John Reid to withdraw from the race over allegations that Reid operated a Tumblr account featuring explicit content, which Reid emphatically denies. Reid, the first openly gay candidate on a statewide ticket in Virginia, claims the accusations are part of a 'coordinated assassination attempt' and has threatened legal action against Youngkin's team, accusing them of defamation and attempted extortion. The controversy erupted after the account, which used a username similar to Reid's known handles, was deleted, but party infighting escalated when Reid refused to step down and returned to the campaign trail. While Youngkin and his PAC maintain they acted in response to 'disturbing online content,' Reid asserts he was not shown evidence and was denied the chance to respond. The incident has fractured party unity, with other GOP leaders remaining largely silent as the dispute dominates election coverage in a critical year for Virginia politics. The turmoil spotlights longstanding tensions within the party over LGBTQ+ representation and internal power struggles.