John Reid, the first openly gay Republican to run for a statewide office in Virginia, announced on Friday that he will continue his campaign for lieutenant governor despite calls from GOP Governor Glenn Youngkin for him to step down following the discovery of explicit content linked to a Tumblr account.
In a video statement, Reid, a conservative talk-radio host and supporter of Youngkin, denied any connection to the account that featured sexually explicit photos. He described the account as a “fabrication” and expressed frustration over Youngkin’s attempt to sabotage his candidacy without presenting evidence or giving him the chance to defend himself.
“It’s predictable, but what I didn’t expect was the governor I have always supported to call and demand my resignation without even showing me the supposed evidence or offering me a chance to respond,” said Reid, who emphasized his determination to stay in the race despite mounting pressure.
Reid’s video came shortly after the Tumblr account, which was tied to a username similar to Reid’s Instagram handle, was reported by The Richmonder. The page, which had reposted explicit images of naked men, was taken down within hours of its discovery. The Virginia Governor‘s office later issued a statement revealing that Youngkin had been made aware of the disturbing content and had requested Reid’s resignation on Friday morning.
Reid, who became the sole Republican candidate for lieutenant governor after Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity dropped out due to health concerns, made it clear that he had no ownership of the controversial Tumblr account. Reid also voiced his concern about the possibility of fabricated online content being used against him due to his sexual orientation.
“Anyone on the internet can open accounts with the same or similar names as other people,” Reid explained.
The political controversy surrounding Reid comes just days before early voting begins for Virginia’s primaries on May 2. Reid’s candidacy has drawn additional scrutiny following his attendance at a drag show in Richmond, which some religious activists viewed unfavorably.
Despite the calls for him to exit the race, Reid expressed his resolve not to bow to pressure. “I told everyone who called that I did not accept that analysis and would not decline the nomination that I’ve worked for so many months to secure,” he said.
Governor Youngkin had previously supported Reid, offering a public endorsement on social media just days before asking him to step down. However, conservative groups, including the Family Foundation Action group, have backed Youngkin’s request for Reid to step aside, arguing that Reid’s candidacy could alienate key conservative voters in Virginia.
This development echoes similar political controversies, such as that of Susanna Gibson, a Democrat who faced scrutiny and ultimately lost her House race after explicit online content was made public. Gibson, who had been caught live-streaming intimate acts, condemned the leak as an invasion of privacy, while critics highlighted the political consequences of such actions.
