Overview
- John Reid, Virginia's GOP nominee for lieutenant governor, is resisting calls to withdraw after allegations surfaced about explicit images linked to a Tumblr account with his username.
- Reid denies ownership of the account, asserting it is a fabricated smear campaign and accusing Governor Glenn Youngkin's advisers of extortion and anti-gay targeting.
- Governor Youngkin has defended his request for Reid to step down, citing the controversy as a distraction, but emphasized that the decision ultimately rests with Reid.
- The allegations and Youngkin's intervention have exposed significant divisions within the Virginia Republican Party, with some GOP officials rallying behind Reid and criticizing the governor's handling of the situation.
- As early voting begins on May 2, Reid vows to remain in the race, framing his campaign as a fight against political bullying and a test of party unity.