Virginia Republican Party embroiled in scandal due to lewd photographs
The controversy has captivated the state's Republican Party as it prepares for a challenging November.
TroibNews 
The controversy surrounding Virginia’s Republican lieutenant governor candidate intensified this week with the resignation of a senior aide to Gov. Glenn Youngkin. This development marked another turbulence-laden moment for the party, which is already grappling with a challenging election year as Republican leaders and grassroots members clash.
The situation is focused on the political future of lieutenant governor candidate John Reid, who has resisted pressure from various Republican Party leaders in Virginia to withdraw amid allegations related to a social media account featuring sexually explicit images of men. Reid, the first openly gay candidate for statewide office in Virginia, has denied any connection to the photos and contended that the campaign to oust him stems from discrimination against his sexual orientation.
After some party leaders became aware of the photos, attempts to push Reid out of the race began. Youngkin reportedly requested Reid to withdraw last week, as confirmed by PMG. However, these efforts to remove him have backfired, leading Matt Moran, who led Youngkin’s political operation, to step down after being accused of pressuring Reid to exit the GOP ticket — an allegation Moran has publicly denied.
Moran did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Youngkin directed attention to comments the governor made on Friday, in which he refrained from stating whether he would support Reid’s campaign but mentioned, “support the nominees and their ticket. [...] Republicans need to win. And that's the bottom line.”
The fallout has deepened the rift within the state’s Republican Party as it prepares for a tough fight in the upcoming November elections. The influence of President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk’s attacks on the federal workforce have hit Virginia especially hard, with over 150,000 federal employees residing in the state. Many within the GOP believe the controversy surrounding Reid could hinder Youngkin’s aspirations for the 2028 presidential race, with perceptions of the situation being viewed as a strategic blunder.
“If John Reid is conservative and he's being trashed by his own political party, you need to go out there and support him,” asserted Scott Pio, chairman of the Loudoun County GOP, which has begun selling “In John Reid We Trust” mugs to support his campaign. “You need to lean in and support the guy instead of run away from him.”
One anonymous Virginia Republican operative dismissed the photos as “just a bunch of penises,” with another referring to the situation as “insane.” The latter remarked that the day before Moran’s departure was made public, “The only winners here are Democrats and then a bunch of losers who are Republicans starting with the governor and going on down to the rest of the ticket.”
GOP consultant Rory Cooper, however, described the drama as a “purely Virginia thing” primarily interesting to political insiders, believing it’s unlikely to impact the election several months down the line. “Candidate choice matters, the party being united matters, and I think they’ll get this stuff behind them because they really have no choice,” he said, emphasizing the importance of party unity in facing moderate Democratic contenders.
This sentiment appears to be echoed by Reid’s campaign. "John is proud to be the Republican nominee and he looks forward to campaigning across the state over the coming months," Reid's campaign stated. "He has been very clear that he welcomes the support of the governor, full ticket, and all Virginians who are committed to unity around our ticket and a positive future for our home."
Concerns that the controversy may weaken the GOP ticket extend beyond party strategists. Winsome Earle-Sears, the likely GOP gubernatorial nominee, publicly stated Tuesday that the focus on Reid distracts from the goal of uniting Virginians. “It is his race and his decision alone to move forward,” she said, although she did not respond to further inquiries.
Earle-Sears, who authored a Christian self-help book, holds socially conservative views, having previously handwritten personal objections to legislation that prohibits officials from denying marriage licenses based on sex, gender, or race, during her duties as lieutenant governor.
Reid held a rally in Henrico, Virginia, on Wednesday evening, after plans for Youngkin and the entire GOP ticket to appear together were canceled. In front of a large audience, he criticized the "Richmond swamp" for resisting "a different type of person who they can't control."
Reid's grassroots support signals a significant shift in a party historically defined by social conservatism, particularly opposition to same-sex marriage. This evolution, accelerated by the rise of Trump, reflects a changing focus among Republican primary voters from “family values” to “fighting.”
The drive to remove Reid and the subsequent upheaval may highlight a disconnect between the party's establishment and its grassroots base. A third Republican operative linked to the situation noted that some Virginia Republicans were anxious that Reid’s sexual orientation could negatively impact elections, suggesting that the social media issue was used to justify the push to oust him.
U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, a Republican, asserted that the diversity of the GOP ticket should improve their chances in the November election. “That's a good, feel-good story, no matter what,” he stated, referring to the candidates’ backgrounds. “And that story should override, assuming that those pictures aren't a whole lot worse than it was depicted.”
On Thursday morning, Reid guest-hosted a four-hour conservative radio show, receiving a stream of calls criticizing Youngkin and his supporters. Reid, who had arranged the guest appearance prior to any request for him to withdraw from the race, was filling in for John Fredericks, who described Reid as a "friend."
“Everyone who is trying to come out against you really learned a lesson last night of what not to do,” one caller, Casey, remarked. Another caller directly criticized Youngkin, labeling the governor as “nothing more than a RINO.”
This backlash raises concerns for Youngkin, who is term-limited and searching for his next political opportunity. His handling of this situation could significantly affect his future endeavors within the party.
Reid's primary opponent, longtime Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity, exited the race last month for health reasons, thereby securing Reid’s position as the nominee.
“If you were that worried about it, why didn’t you run a bunch of other people?” Reid said during the radio show on Thursday.
However, staying on the ticket is merely one challenge; winning in November presents a different set of obstacles.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, representing part of Northern Virginia, commented that the identity of the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor may be irrelevant given the challenges posed by the Trump administration's impact on federal operations, which affects many voters in the state.
“Virginians are mad right now,” Subramanyam stated. “Whoever the Republican nominee is in November is going to pay a price for what's going on in D.C. right now.”
Ally Mutnick contributed reporting.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
The situation is focused on the political future of lieutenant governor candidate John Reid, who has resisted pressure from various Republican Party leaders in Virginia to withdraw amid allegations related to a social media account featuring sexually explicit images of men. Reid, the first openly gay candidate for statewide office in Virginia, has denied any connection to the photos and contended that the campaign to oust him stems from discrimination against his sexual orientation.
After some party leaders became aware of the photos, attempts to push Reid out of the race began. Youngkin reportedly requested Reid to withdraw last week, as confirmed by PMG. However, these efforts to remove him have backfired, leading Matt Moran, who led Youngkin’s political operation, to step down after being accused of pressuring Reid to exit the GOP ticket — an allegation Moran has publicly denied.
Moran did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Youngkin directed attention to comments the governor made on Friday, in which he refrained from stating whether he would support Reid’s campaign but mentioned, “support the nominees and their ticket. [...] Republicans need to win. And that's the bottom line.”
The fallout has deepened the rift within the state’s Republican Party as it prepares for a tough fight in the upcoming November elections. The influence of President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk’s attacks on the federal workforce have hit Virginia especially hard, with over 150,000 federal employees residing in the state. Many within the GOP believe the controversy surrounding Reid could hinder Youngkin’s aspirations for the 2028 presidential race, with perceptions of the situation being viewed as a strategic blunder.
“If John Reid is conservative and he's being trashed by his own political party, you need to go out there and support him,” asserted Scott Pio, chairman of the Loudoun County GOP, which has begun selling “In John Reid We Trust” mugs to support his campaign. “You need to lean in and support the guy instead of run away from him.”
One anonymous Virginia Republican operative dismissed the photos as “just a bunch of penises,” with another referring to the situation as “insane.” The latter remarked that the day before Moran’s departure was made public, “The only winners here are Democrats and then a bunch of losers who are Republicans starting with the governor and going on down to the rest of the ticket.”
GOP consultant Rory Cooper, however, described the drama as a “purely Virginia thing” primarily interesting to political insiders, believing it’s unlikely to impact the election several months down the line. “Candidate choice matters, the party being united matters, and I think they’ll get this stuff behind them because they really have no choice,” he said, emphasizing the importance of party unity in facing moderate Democratic contenders.
This sentiment appears to be echoed by Reid’s campaign. "John is proud to be the Republican nominee and he looks forward to campaigning across the state over the coming months," Reid's campaign stated. "He has been very clear that he welcomes the support of the governor, full ticket, and all Virginians who are committed to unity around our ticket and a positive future for our home."
Concerns that the controversy may weaken the GOP ticket extend beyond party strategists. Winsome Earle-Sears, the likely GOP gubernatorial nominee, publicly stated Tuesday that the focus on Reid distracts from the goal of uniting Virginians. “It is his race and his decision alone to move forward,” she said, although she did not respond to further inquiries.
Earle-Sears, who authored a Christian self-help book, holds socially conservative views, having previously handwritten personal objections to legislation that prohibits officials from denying marriage licenses based on sex, gender, or race, during her duties as lieutenant governor.
Reid held a rally in Henrico, Virginia, on Wednesday evening, after plans for Youngkin and the entire GOP ticket to appear together were canceled. In front of a large audience, he criticized the "Richmond swamp" for resisting "a different type of person who they can't control."
Reid's grassroots support signals a significant shift in a party historically defined by social conservatism, particularly opposition to same-sex marriage. This evolution, accelerated by the rise of Trump, reflects a changing focus among Republican primary voters from “family values” to “fighting.”
The drive to remove Reid and the subsequent upheaval may highlight a disconnect between the party's establishment and its grassroots base. A third Republican operative linked to the situation noted that some Virginia Republicans were anxious that Reid’s sexual orientation could negatively impact elections, suggesting that the social media issue was used to justify the push to oust him.
U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, a Republican, asserted that the diversity of the GOP ticket should improve their chances in the November election. “That's a good, feel-good story, no matter what,” he stated, referring to the candidates’ backgrounds. “And that story should override, assuming that those pictures aren't a whole lot worse than it was depicted.”
On Thursday morning, Reid guest-hosted a four-hour conservative radio show, receiving a stream of calls criticizing Youngkin and his supporters. Reid, who had arranged the guest appearance prior to any request for him to withdraw from the race, was filling in for John Fredericks, who described Reid as a "friend."
“Everyone who is trying to come out against you really learned a lesson last night of what not to do,” one caller, Casey, remarked. Another caller directly criticized Youngkin, labeling the governor as “nothing more than a RINO.”
This backlash raises concerns for Youngkin, who is term-limited and searching for his next political opportunity. His handling of this situation could significantly affect his future endeavors within the party.
Reid's primary opponent, longtime Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity, exited the race last month for health reasons, thereby securing Reid’s position as the nominee.
“If you were that worried about it, why didn’t you run a bunch of other people?” Reid said during the radio show on Thursday.
However, staying on the ticket is merely one challenge; winning in November presents a different set of obstacles.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, representing part of Northern Virginia, commented that the identity of the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor may be irrelevant given the challenges posed by the Trump administration's impact on federal operations, which affects many voters in the state.
“Virginians are mad right now,” Subramanyam stated. “Whoever the Republican nominee is in November is going to pay a price for what's going on in D.C. right now.”
Ally Mutnick contributed reporting.
Anna Muller for TROIB News
