{"id":24175,"date":"2025-05-08T09:30:20","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T09:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.itshrt.com\/worldnews\/a-salacious-saga-engulfs-the-virginia-g-o-p-and-weakens-youngkin\/"},"modified":"2025-05-08T09:30:20","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T09:30:20","slug":"a-salacious-saga-engulfs-the-virginia-g-o-p-and-weakens-youngkin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.itshrt.com\/worldnews\/a-salacious-saga-engulfs-the-virginia-g-o-p-and-weakens-youngkin\/","title":{"rendered":"A Salacious Saga Engulfs the Virginia G.O.P. and Weakens Youngkin"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6606220950177433\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- ItShrt World News -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-6606220950177433\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"1882483372\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-0\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">When Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia found out that Republican research had linked the G.O.P.\u2019s nominee for lieutenant governor to a blog featuring photos of naked men, he tried to save his party from an embarrassing situation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Mr. Youngkin called the candidate, John Reid, a longtime conservative talk radio host in Richmond, and told him he needed to abandon his campaign because the website was certain to be discovered and would tank the party\u2019s entire ticket.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cI need you to drop out,\u201d Mr. Youngkin said, according to two people briefed on the call.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Then a funny thing happened. Mr. Reid did not quit. Instead, he posted a five-minute video to social media noting that he is gay and explaining that he had watched pornography and had one-night stands in the past. The Republican base in Virginia quickly rallied around him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-2\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">It also revealed a stunning lack of political juice from Mr. Youngkin, who has been considered <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/dc-md-va\/2024\/07\/16\/youngkin-virginia-2028\/\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">a potential Republican presidential candidate<\/a> since the day he <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/11\/02\/us\/elections\/youngkin-wins-virginia-governor.html\" title=\"\">won election as governor in 2021<\/a>. A wealthy former private equity executive, he is widely credited with saving Virginia Republicans from oblivion and, since his victory, has rebuilt and funded much of the state party.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The contretemps comes as Democrats are heavily favored to win the November election for governor of Virginia, one of this year\u2019s marquee races. <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2013\/11\/06\/us\/politics\/mcauliffe-is-elected-governor-in-virginia.html\" title=\"\">Only once since 1977<\/a> have Virginia voters elected a governor of the same party as the president.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Virginia Democrats are especially optimistic this year because Mr. Trump is highly unpopular in the state, which has borne the brunt of federal government layoffs. Mr. Youngkin, who cannot run again because of term limits, is backing Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears as his Republican successor \u2014 but she <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vpap.org\/visuals\/visual\/statewide-candidate-fundraising-q1-2025\/\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">has raised less than half as much money<\/a> as the Democratic nominee, former Representative Abigail Spanberger.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The controversy has divided Virginia Republicans and further dented their hopes. When Mr. Youngkin maneuvered to push out Mr. Reid, the party\u2019s MAGA base quickly labeled the governor an establishment stooge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-3\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cIt\u2019s five to one,\u201d said John Fredericks, a right-wing talk radio host who has a daily show syndicated across Virginia. \u201cThey want Reid to stay in the race. They think the establishment is trying to screw him. Who cares about penises on Tumblr? No one cares.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The trouble in Virginia began late last month when Mr. Reid\u2019s lone opponent in the Republican primary contest for lieutenant governor <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/dc-md-va\/2025\/04\/21\/herrity-virginia-lieutenant-governor-john-reid\/\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">dropped out after undergoing heart surgery<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The Republican State Leadership Committee, the arm of the party that helps fund candidates for lieutenant governor, then produced a basic research document on Mr. Reid. It included the Tumblr blog, which had the same username he used on other social media sites and has since been deleted. <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/dc-md-va\/2025\/04\/25\/youngkin-john-reid-candidate-photos\/\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Washington Post described<\/a> its contents as \u201cranging from explicit photos of male genitalia to images typical of a racy underwear ad.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Mr. Reid, whose father served in the Virginia legislature and <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/archive\/politics\/2006\/01\/27\/gun-toting-delegate-misfires-at-va-capitol\/1174f47f-21f3-45b4-b4c4-8f54a2d1dc3f\/\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">once fired a gun by mistake inside his Capitol office<\/a>, denied being the author of the Tumblr.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">In an extraordinary move, he posted his <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JohnReid4VA\/status\/1915866821548216560\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">five-minute explanation<\/a> of the situation and vowed to remain in the race \u2014 while standing in front of portraits of Mr. Youngkin and Ms. Earle-Sears. He said he had attended drag shows in Richmond but called the Tumblr a \u201cfake account\u201d and said the idea that it belonged to him was \u201ca total, fabricated internet lie.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-4\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cHave I seen porn? Yes,\u201d he said. \u201cHave I had one-night stands? Are my exes still in love with me? No. What more can I possibly tell you? Why am I the candidate who has to answer these questions? It\u2019s because I am openly gay, and I have never bowed down to the establishment and I will not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">There is no mechanism in Virginia election law that would allow Republicans to force Mr. Reid from the race. Mr. Reid, who declined to be interviewed for this article, has remained defiant as the controversy has scrambled typical Republican alliances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Ms. Earle-Sears has kept her distance from Mr. Reid. A Christian conservative, she <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.virginiascope.com\/lt-gov-earle-sears-opposed-anti-discrimination-marriage-bill-in-handwritten-note\/\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">wrote a note by hand<\/a> last year to declare herself \u201cmorally opposed\u201d to legislation signed by Mr. Youngkin that prohibited Virginia officials from denying a marriage license because of sex, gender or race.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-5\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Yet others on the party\u2019s right wing have embraced Mr. Reid. The <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/loudoungop.com\/shop\/i-support-john-reid-t-shirt-proceeds-will-be-donated-to-john-reids-campaign-for-lt-governor\/\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Loudoun County Republican Committee<\/a> is now selling \u201cI Support John Reid\u201d T-shirts for $25 \u2014 available in eight colors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-6\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">While Mr. Fredericks said the Republican base thought Mr. Reid was being treated unfairly, he predicted that the Republican ticket would lose if he did not drop out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cWe have a tendency to litigate our primaries in Virginia all the way to the general election,\u201d said John Whitbeck, a former chairman of the Virginia Republican Party. \u201cThis is yet another example of how we shoot ourselves in the foot in the party.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">There is no shortage of Republicans taking aim at one another\u2019s feet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Mr. Reid\u2019s lawyer sent <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/documents\/7093ee02-8b84-4f02-a2b3-1a6e0aaf7d47.pdf\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">a cease-and-desist letter<\/a> to Mr. Youngkin\u2019s longtime political adviser, who had sought to engineer Mr. Reid\u2019s departure from the race. The adviser subsequently <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/05\/01\/youngkin-aide-steps-down-amid-controversy-over-gops-lieutenant-governor-candidate-00322423\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">stepped aside from his post<\/a>. <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/mmoran0226\/status\/1917669254851084476?t=dDF7mflhWW_tTsi_rqwu6Q&amp;s=19\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The two sides<\/a> have traded accusatory letters, <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiamercury.com\/2025\/05\/01\/audio-recording-sheds-new-light-on-va-gop-firestorm-involving-youngkins-top-advisor-lg-candidate\/\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">leaked recordings of meetings<\/a> to the Richmond news media and floated threats of new damaging information on Mr. Reid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Mr. Youngkin has tried to declare something of a truce, and Mr. Reid has taken victory laps while serving as <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com\/p\/reid-is-on-the-radio-until-10-am\" title=\"\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">a guest host on Mr. Fredericks\u2019s radio show<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cThis situation has clearly spiraled beyond what anyone intended,\u201d said Tim Anderson, a former Virginia state legislator who is aiding Mr. Reid\u2019s campaign. \u201cThis should have never become a public spectacle, and he should have been given the opportunity to privately meet with stakeholders to find resolution or to show his defenses before he was asked to resign.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"companionColumn-7\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Mr. Youngkin, for his part, told reporters in Richmond last week that staying in the race was \u201cJohn Reid\u2019s decision\u201d after being asked if he would campaign with Mr. Reid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cHe has clearly made up his mind that he\u2019s going to stay in,\u201d Mr. Youngkin said. \u201cAnd so he is the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. And I think the debate can stop there, because that\u2019s the answer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Mr. Youngkin declined an interview request and is now backing Mr. Reid\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">\u201cThe governor is supporting the G.O.P. ticket,\u201d said Becca Glover, Mr. Youngkin\u2019s spokeswoman. \u201cWe are moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6606220950177433\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- ItShrt World News -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-6606220950177433\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"1882483372\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/05\/08\/us\/politics\/youngkin-john-reid-virginia-republicans.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia found out that Republican research had linked the G.O.P.\u2019s nominee for lieutenant governor to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24176,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[6932,861,6926,2997,384,6928,6927,203,6929,6931,111,1137,6930,6925],"class_list":["post-24175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us","tag-abigail","tag-elections","tag-glenn-a","tag-governors-us","tag-john","tag-lieutenant-governors","tag-reid","tag-republican-party","tag-sears","tag-spanberger","tag-united-states-politics-and-government","tag-virginia","tag-winsome","tag-youngkin"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>A Salacious Saga Engulfs the Virginia G.O.P. and Weakens Youngkin - World News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/site.itshrt.com\/worldnews\/a-salacious-saga-engulfs-the-virginia-g-o-p-and-weakens-youngkin\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Salacious Saga Engulfs the Virginia G.O.P. and Weakens Youngkin - World News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When Gov. 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