Youngkin Asks Nominee to Leave Race Over Explicit Photos
- Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin requested that John Reid, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, withdraw from the 2025 election following controversy over a fake social media profile linked to explicit photo posts.
- Youngkin's request followed reports of a spoofed account impersonating Reid that shared sexually explicit images of other people, which Reid denies reposting or affiliation with.
- Reid, Virginia's first openly gay statewide Republican nominee, called the effort a coordinated assassination attempt and vowed to remain in the race despite pressure to quit.
- On April 27, 2025, Reid accused his opponents of attempting to coerce him into resigning from the race and vowed to continue campaigning actively.
- The controversy created backlash within the GOP, with party leaders criticizing Youngkin’s approach and signaling division ahead of the June 17 primaries and November general election.
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90 Articles
A Salacious Saga Engulfs the Virginia G.O.P. and Weakens Youngkin - Overpasses For America
When Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia found out that Republican research had linked the G.O.P.’s nominee for lieutenant governor to a blog featuring photos of naked men, he tried to save his party from an embarrassing situation. 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’s…
Virginia Republicans reel from party infighting over nominee for lieutenant governor
Virginia Republicans are reeling from an intraparty fight over a disputed social media account that has pitted lieutenant governor nominee John Reid against Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s political operation, imperiling the party’s chances of holding on to power in this year’s general election.
A Political Hatchet Job? GOP Nominee for Virginia Lt. Governor Allegedly Caught With Graphic Photos of Nude Men - Nominee Issues a Ferocious Response to Allegation
The Republican nominee to be Virginia’s next Lieutenant Governor is under fire for supposedly posting sexually graphic photos on a social media account years ago.
Gay-porn scandal ensnaring GOP nominee splits Virginia Republicans
Virginia Republicans are splintering over GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin's call for John Reid, the party's lieutenant-governor nominee, to step aside — after the hopeful was accused of posting gay porn on Tumblr.
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