Virginia lieutenant governor candidate stays in race, defying Youngkin

In a video posted on X Friday, John Reid, a former conservative radio talk show host and Republican candidate for Virginia’s lieutenant governor, called allegations that he posted nude images on a Tumblr account attributed to his Instagram handle “a total fabricated internet lie,” adding that Gov. Glenn Youngkin called him to demand Reid step down from the GOP statewide ticket.

He does not plan to leave the race, Reid said in the five-minute video posted on his X account late Friday afternoon. He also accused Youngkin of demanding his resignation “without even showing me the supposed evidence or offering me a chance to respond. I did not accept that, and I deeply resent it.”

He alleged that other, unnamed conservatives had staged a “coordinated assassination attempt to force the first openly gay candidate off the Republican statewide ticket,” and that someone had used Reid’s Instagram handle to create a page on Tumblr, where Reid said someone posted photos of nude people — not including him.

“It’s not my place to judge others, so I won’t, but I haven’t publicly performed or publicly posted anything pornographic,” he said. “Have I seen porn? Yes. Have I had one-night stands? Yes.”

The Richmond Times-Dispatch and The Washington Post shared a statement from Youngkin’s PAC: “The Governor was made aware late Thursday of the disturbing online content. Friday morning, in a call with Mr. Reid, the Governor asked him to step down as the Lt. Governor nominee.”

Standing in front of framed photos of Youngkin and the current lieutenant governor and GOP candidate for governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, Reid said this wasn’t the first time he had been targeted, referring to a post on Facebook that alleged he “likes little boys” that he fought to have removed from the social media platform. He said that Republicans and Democrats had attacked him over the years.

Reid noted that since his opponent for the Republican nomination, Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity, dropped out of the race this week due to a heart ailment, Reid has experienced “nonstop harassment.”

A former WRVA radio talk show host, Reid alleged that earlier in the week “a local religious activist” contacted him to say that they had seen photos of Reid watching a downtown Richmond drag show — saying the pictures would tank his campaign, as well as “destroy his life,” and that Reid should drop out of the race.

While saying that drag shows aren’t for children, Reid said that he was an adult and that adults have freedom to watch drag or similar entertainment.

“I will not bow down to the establishment,” Reid said in the video. He closed the video by saying that he would be consulting with lawyers and that he would have more to say in the future. The Richmonder, a Richmond-based online news outlet, broke the story Friday afternoon.

According to Earle-Sears’ campaign website, she is slated to appear with Youngkin, Reid and Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is seeking a second term, in a rally April 30 at Atlas 42 in Glen Allen. The “Ever Forward” rally promotes the debut of the “2025 statewide slate” for the Republican Party.

Youngkin’s office and his Spirit of Virginia PAC did not immediately respond to Virginia Business’ requests for comment Friday, and nor did Earle-Sears’ campaign.