When Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia discovered that Republican analysis had linked the G.O.P.’s nominee for lieutenant governor to a weblog that includes images of bare males, he tried to save lots of his get together from an embarrassing scenario.
Mr. Youngkin known as the candidate, John Reid, a longtime conservative discuss radio host in Richmond, and informed him he wanted to desert his marketing campaign as a result of the web site was sure to be found and would tank the get together’s total ticket.
“I want you to drop out,” Mr. Youngkin stated, in response to two folks briefed on the decision.
Then a humorous factor occurred. Mr. Reid didn’t stop. As a substitute, he posted a five-minute video to social media noting that he’s homosexual and explaining that he had watched pornography and had one-night stands prior to now. The Republican base in Virginia shortly rallied round him.
It additionally revealed a shocking lack of political juice from Mr. Youngkin, who has been thought of a potential Republican presidential candidate because the day he won election as governor in 2021. A rich former personal fairness govt, he’s extensively credited with saving Virginia Republicans from oblivion and, since his victory, has rebuilt and funded a lot of the state get together.
The contretemps comes as Democrats are closely favored to win the November election for governor of Virginia, one among this 12 months’s marquee races. Only once since 1977 have Virginia voters elected a governor of the identical get together because the president.
Virginia Democrats are particularly optimistic this 12 months as a result of Mr. Trump is extremely unpopular within the state, which has borne the brunt of federal authorities layoffs. Mr. Youngkin, who can’t run once more due to time period limits, is backing Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears as his Republican successor — however she has raised less than half as much money because the Democratic nominee, former Consultant Abigail Spanberger.
The controversy has divided Virginia Republicans and additional dented their hopes. When Mr. Youngkin maneuvered to push out Mr. Reid, the get together’s MAGA base shortly labeled the governor an institution stooge.
“It’s 5 to at least one,” stated John Fredericks, a right-wing discuss radio host who has a day by day present syndicated throughout Virginia. “They need Reid to remain within the race. They assume the institution is attempting to screw him. Who cares about penises on Tumblr? Nobody cares.”
The difficulty in Virginia started late final month when Mr. Reid’s lone opponent within the Republican main contest for lieutenant governor dropped out after undergoing heart surgery.
The Republican State Management Committee, the arm of the get together that helps fund candidates for lieutenant governor, then produced a primary analysis doc on Mr. Reid. It included the Tumblr weblog, which had the identical username he used on different social media websites and has since been deleted. The Washington Post described its contents as “starting from specific images of male genitalia to photographs typical of a racy underwear advert.”
Mr. Reid, whose father served within the Virginia legislature and once fired a gun by mistake inside his Capitol office, denied being the creator of the Tumblr.
In a unprecedented transfer, he posted his five-minute explanation of the scenario and vowed to stay within the race — whereas standing in entrance of portraits of Mr. Youngkin and Ms. Earle-Sears. He stated he had attended drag exhibits in Richmond however known as the Tumblr a “faux account” and stated the concept it belonged to him was “a complete, fabricated web lie.”
“Have I seen porn? Sure,” he stated. “Have I had one-night stands? Are my exes nonetheless in love with me? No. What extra can I presumably let you know? Why am I the candidate who has to reply these questions? It’s as a result of I’m brazenly homosexual, and I’ve by no means bowed all the way down to the institution and I can’t.”
There is no such thing as a mechanism in Virginia election regulation that may permit Republicans to pressure Mr. Reid from the race. Mr. Reid, who declined to be interviewed for this text, has remained defiant because the controversy has scrambled typical Republican alliances.
Ms. Earle-Sears has stored her distance from Mr. Reid. A Christian conservative, she wrote a note by hand final 12 months to declare herself “morally opposed” to laws signed by Mr. Youngkin that prohibited Virginia officers from denying a wedding license due to intercourse, gender or race.
But others on the get together’s proper wing have embraced Mr. Reid. The Loudoun County Republican Committee is now promoting “I Help John Reid” T-shirts for $25 — obtainable in eight colours.
Whereas Mr. Fredericks stated the Republican base thought Mr. Reid was being handled unfairly, he predicted that the Republican ticket would lose if he didn’t drop out.
“We generally tend to litigate our primaries in Virginia all the best way to the final election,” stated John Whitbeck, a former chairman of the Virginia Republican Occasion. “That is yet one more instance of how we shoot ourselves within the foot within the get together.”
There is no such thing as a scarcity of Republicans taking purpose at each other’s ft.
Mr. Reid’s lawyer despatched a cease-and-desist letter to Mr. Youngkin’s longtime political adviser, who had sought to engineer Mr. Reid’s departure from the race. The adviser subsequently stepped aside from his post. The two sides have traded accusatory letters, leaked recordings of meetings to the Richmond information media and floated threats of recent damaging data on Mr. Reid.
Mr. Youngkin has tried to declare one thing of a truce, and Mr. Reid has taken victory laps whereas serving as a guest host on Mr. Fredericks’s radio show.
“This case has clearly spiraled past what anybody meant,” stated Tim Anderson, a former Virginia state legislator who’s aiding Mr. Reid’s marketing campaign. “This could have by no means develop into a public spectacle, and he ought to have been given the chance to privately meet with stakeholders to seek out decision or to point out his defenses earlier than he was requested to resign.”
Mr. Youngkin, for his half, informed reporters in Richmond final week that staying within the race was “John Reid’s choice” after being requested if he would marketing campaign with Mr. Reid.
“He has clearly made up his thoughts that he’s going to remain in,” Mr. Youngkin stated. “And so he’s the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. And I believe the talk can cease there, as a result of that’s the reply.”
Mr. Youngkin declined an interview request and is now backing Mr. Reid’s marketing campaign.
“The governor is supporting the G.O.P. ticket,” stated Becca Glover, Mr. Youngkin’s spokeswoman. “We’re shifting ahead.”
