Republican nominee for lieutenant governor rejects Youngkin’s request he withdraw from race over allegations of ‘disturbing online content’

“What happened today is another coordinated assassination attempt against me to force the first openly gay candidate off of a Virginia statewide ticket,” said John Reid, the Republican nominee for Virginia lieutenant governor.

The Republican nominee for Virginia lieutenant governor is defending himself against what he called an “assassination attempt” to kick him off the ticket because of his sexuality after Gov. Glenn Youngkin asked him to step down. 

On Friday, The Richmonder broke the news that Youngkin had asked John Reid, a gay, conservative radio host in the Richmond area, to step down as the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor over allegations that tied Reid to a Tumblr account that had re-posted sexually explicit images. The account used a username that matched Reid’s other social media accounts, but Reid denied the allegations he had anything to do with the Tumblr account. 

Reid has been openly gay for more than 30 years.

“What happened today is another coordinated assassination attempt against me to force the first openly gay candidate off of a Virginia statewide ticket,” Reid said. “It’s shameful, and I won’t back down even though I know the plan is probably for the attacks to continue and there’s every effort to make me toxic.”

Please watch and listen intently and hear the facts of the matter! Official Statement!!! pic.twitter.com/q5MxSorBZ9

— John Reid (@JohnReid4VA) April 25, 2025

Reid became the Republican nominee this week after the only other candidate, Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity, announced he needed to leave the race for health reasons. Becoming the party’s nominee led to more threats, attacks, and demands that Reid drop out because supposedly Christian voters would never support him and he would bring down the ticket, Reid said. 

Reid will appear on the ticket this fall with the Republican gubernatorial nominee, current Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, and Attorney General Jason Miyares, both of whom have been accused of being anti-LGBTQ. 

In an emotional video message released on Friday, Reid defended himself and his family.

Reid said religious activists threatened to release photos of him at a drag show in downtown Richmond if he did not drop out of the race in what Reid called an attempt to extort him. Like other Republicans, Reid does not think kids should see people dressed in drag, but Reid does not oppose adults enjoying drag shows. 

Reid detailed all the questions he has had to deal with as an openly gay man and called out the double standard when it comes to straight candidates. 

“Have I seen porn? Yes. Have I had one night stands? Yes. Are my exes all still in love with me? No. What more can I possibly tell you?” Reid said. “And why am I the candidate who has to answer these questions on this topic? Let’s be honest: it’s because I’m openly gay and I have never bowed down to the establishment.”

Reid said he has been attacked by radical Republicans for decades simply because he is gay and, as he put it, by “angry leftists who call me a traitor.” He said while it was predictable that people would try to force him out of the race, he did not expect Youngkin, who Reid has always supported, to come after him too. 

“What’s happened today was my worst fear,” Reid said, a portrait of Youngkin and Sears behind him. 

Statement from Youngkin’s PAC on today’s developments pic.twitter.com/tGyxArIZKh

— Graham Moomaw (@gmoomaw) April 25, 2025